HAWAII // Solar Impulse 2 pilot Bertrand Piccard has been conducting test flights as he prepares to continue his round-the-world attempt.
The 20 hours of test flights, which began in March, are as much about the Swiss pilot as the solar-powered aircraft.
“The flight is really for the pilot,” said Alexandra Gindroz, head of media relations for the team. “The plane we have tested and know it’s ready. Now Bertrand is getting the feel of the plane because the next flight will be a long one.”
The plane has been grounded at Kalaeloa Airport in Hawaii since July after its batteries were damaged on a flight from Japan across the Pacific Ocean.
After months of repairs, it is expected to take off on Friday to continue its journey back to its starting point in Abu Dhabi.
The plane flies at an average speed of 60kph, so the next leg to the West Coast of the US is expected to take four days.
The main challenge for Mr Piccard and co-pilot Andre Borschberg is finding sunlight to power the plane, and avoiding clouds.
During the plane’s hiatus, Dh80.7 million was raised to pay for improvements. It allowed the team to build new batteries, which were installed before testing began.
Ms Gindroz said the Solar Impulse 2 team was eager to get the journey restarted. “The plane is ready, we just want to get the pilots back in tune with the flights,” she said.
The Solar Impulse 2 team, sponsored by renewable energy company Masdar, is attempting the first solar-powered aircraft flight around the world.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
