Solar Impulse Flight #8 to Hawaii Halted on the Tarmac (Video)

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Originally published on 1Sun4All.

Those of you who were watching the live takeoff coverage of Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) — the world’s first solar-powered plane able to fly day and night without a drop of fuel — from Nagoya, Japan, already know that the weather window closed as André Borschberg — CEO, cofounder, and pilot of Solar Impulse — was sitting in Si2 on the tarmac.

There was a lot of conversation at Monaco Control Center where the weather team studied the weather models to be certain Si2 and the pilot would be safe to take off for the demanding 5-day and 5-night journey. In the end, it was decided to postpone the flight due to worsening weather conditions.

The Si2 takeoff video below is just over 3 hours long and at around 2:48 you can see when the decision was taken to not go ahead with the flight to Hawaii in the United States.

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Si2 cannot sit on the tarmac in Japan because as the sun comes up, so does the wind. Si2 weighs as much as a standard automobile and is vulnerable to the blustery weather.

Solar Impulse tweeted: “As the day rises, #Si2 heads back to its mobile hangar, which will have to be partly re-inflated!”

Solar Impulse

Bertrand Piccard said on Twitter: “An extreme adventure allows you to enter into a much more intimate and authentic relationship with yourself.”

Bertrand was visibly disappointed and tweeted: “Will the third attempt of the ocean crossing to Hawaii be the good one? Let’s wait for the next windows to answer.” He continued, “If we cannot cope with disappointment and frustration, we should do something else than exploration and adventure @solarimpulse.”

Solar Impulse

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I will be very happy when the Solar Impulse team waves bon voyage and watches André Borschberg fly off into the early morning rising sun, heading out over the Pacific Ocean to reach Hawaii, USA. Si2’s Round-the-World attempt is a mighty adventure and my support is fully behind this first-ever solar flight.  —Amber Archangel

Photo, Video, and Cartoon Credit: Solar Impulse 


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Amber Archangel

-- I am an artist, painter, writer, interior designer, graphic designer, and constant student of many studies. Living with respect for the environment close at hand, the food chain, natural remedies for healing the earth, people and animals is a life-long expression and commitment. As half of a home-building team, I helped design and build harmonious, sustainable and net-zero homes that incorporate clean air systems, passive and active solar energy as well as rainwater collection systems. Private aviation stirs a special appeal, I would love to fly in the solar airplane and install a wind turbine in my yard. I am a peace-loving, courageous soul, and I am passionate about contributing to the clean energy revolution. I formerly designed and managed a clean energy website, 1Sun4All.com.

Amber Archangel has 195 posts and counting. See all posts by Amber Archangel