Will Solar Impulse Make It From Nagoya (Japan) To Hawaii (USA) Without A Drop Of Fuel? (Video)

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Originally published on 1Sun4All.

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) released news this morning that the attempt for the first ever round-the-world solar flight to inspire innovation and encourage the use of clean technologies, using the solar-powered airplane of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, will try again to make a historical oceanic flight that will last at least 5 days and 5 nights nonstop.

This morning, June 29th, 2015, at 3:03 am local time in Nagoya, Japan (6:03 pm GMT on June 28th), Swiss pilot André Borschberg took off in the single-seater aircraft from Nagoya endeavoring to reach Hawaii, in what will be the longest exploration leg of the Solar Impulse’s “Round-The-World” mission. The first 10 hours of flight were difficult for the team, which had to solve technical problems before giving the final go to head for Hawaii — when Solar Impulse 2 was already off the coast of Japan.

André Borschberg tweeted: “Very happy to finally go ahead with this flight to Hawaii, further advancing @bertrandpiccard‘s vision.”

Chip in a few dollars a month to help support independent cleantech coverage that helps to accelerate the cleantech revolution!

This is a second attempt after diverting the first time around to Nagoya, Japan, following a takeoff from Nanjing, China. This flight will be demanding and challenging, particularly given its duration and the fact that no immediate landing is possible, and that it will be a feat never accomplished before in the world of aviation.

The attempt to reach Hawaii from Japan will represent a real-life test of endurance for the pilot while at the same time pushing the limits of the airplane to even new levels. Successfully arriving in Hawaii will prove that “the impossible” is achievable.

Bertrand Piccard said on Twitter: “The past 10 hours have been very difficult. We did not communicate because we did not know what to say.”

solar impulse

The real moment of truth still lies ahead. We are now at the point in the Round-the-World Solar Flight where everything comes together, the engineers who worked on the airplane for the last 12 years, the Mission Control Center who will have to predict weather and guide the airplane through good conditions, and Bertrand who had this vision 16 years ago of an airplane flying for days without fuel to change our mindset regarding the potential of clean technologies and renewable energies.—André Borschberg, Co-Founder, CEO and Pilot

André will venture into the unknown and demonstrate his courage by adapting to extreme circumstances, ranging from: living in a small, 3.8m3 cockpit; maintaining his confidence that the energy collected from the sun throughout the day will last through the night; and remaining physically and mentally alert throughout the entire journey. For this, André will sleep only for 20 minutes at a time and will use yoga and meditation to keep his body energy and mindset functioning well.

An airplane flying day and night without fuel is more than a spectacular milestone in aviation, it’s the living proof that clean technologies and renewable energies can achieve incredible feats; and that all these energy efficient technologies should now be used globally in order to have a cleaner world. Solar Impulse is the result of years of innovation from our partners and the hard work of our engineering team led by André. —Bertrand Piccard, Solar Impulse Initiator, Chairman and Pilot

solar impulse cartoon

Join the Movement: FutureIsClean.org #FutureIsClean

Solar Impulse tweeted: “Joe the shark is waiting for his dinner, watching solarimpulse #yummy.”

Photo, Video and Cartoon Credit: Solar Impulse 


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

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