Originally published on 1Sun4All.
Solar Impulse shared on Google+: “#Si2 will takeoff on Sunday, 22PM UTC, for #Flight5 to #Chongqing, #China! Pilots and team are getting prepared for this long flight above Himalayas and Kunming.”
Solar Impulse tweeted: “#Flight5 to #Chongqing confirmed! #MCC team solved issues we had with cumulus above #Si2.”
Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) will take off for its 5th flight from Mandalay (Mandalay International Airport, MDL/VYMD) in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, to Chongqing (Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, CKG/ZUCK) in the People’s Republic of China.
The pilot — yet to be determined — will fly the solar-powered airplane on about 1375 km (742 NM, 854 miles) for an estimated time of 20 hours.
André Borschberg said on Twitter: “2 flights left until we do our big jump with the Pacific crossing. We will use them to acquire more experience.”
Bertrand Piccard added: “Climate change is an opportunity to bring new solutions to the fore. Vote on futureisclean, @solarimpulse.
The 6th flight in the round-the-world attempt will take Si2 from Chongqing (Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, CKG/ZUCK) in the People’s Republic of China, to Nanjing (Nanjing Lukou International Airport, NKG/ZSNJ), also in the People’s Republic of China.
The pilot will fly the zero-carbon airplane on about 1190 km (642 NM, 739 miles) for an estimated time of 20 hours. These two important Chinese cities give Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg the opportunity to reach out to universities and schools to spread the message of the practicality and affordability of clean technologies.
Si2 will take off for its 7th flight from Nanjing (Nanjing Lukou International Airport, NKG/ZSNJ) in the People’s Republic of China, to Hawaii (Kalaeloa Airport, JRF/PHJR) in the United States of America.
The pilot — yet to be determined — will fly the zero-fuel airplane on about 8172 km (4412 NM, 5077 miles) for an estimated time of 120 hours. This is the BIG ONE! The flight across the Pacific is a feat of endurance for the pilot, and for the support teams that constantly monitor and plan for Si2’s route. Over 5 days, the pilot will head for the small target of the Hawaiian Islands.
Si2 will land at the Kalaeloa Airport, which is a general aviation reliever airport for Honolulu International Airport. It has air traffic control functions from 06:00 to 22:00 daily but is available as an alternate 24/7/365, and has full daily firefighting capability.
Users of the airport are the US Coast Guard, Hawaii Community College Flight Program, Hawaii National Guard, and general aviation community. Major touch-and-go training occurs at JRF. In 2007, there were 123,184 air operations. In 2009, there were 128,732 air operations.
While continuing to serve civilian and military aviation needs, Kalaeloa Airport remains a link to Oahu’s World War II history.
Video Credit: SOLAR IMPULSE | Photo Credits: 2015-03-19 Solar Impulse 2 RTW 4th Flight Varanasi to Mandalay landing, Stefatou and 2015-03-25 Solar Impulse 2 RTW Mobile Hangar Mandalay, Stefatou via Solar Impulse | Cartoon Credit: Martin Saive via Solar Impulse
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