ABU DHABI // Solar Impulse 2 will continue its circumnavigation attempt with a flight from Arizona to Oklahoma on the second leg of its American journey today.
The plane is set to take off at 2pm UAE time for a flight that is expected to take 18 hours.
This trip will see Swiss pilot and co-founder of the project Bertrand Piccard piloting the solar-powered plane as the team makes its way to New York.
“We have found a clear weather window that gives way for a 17 hour and 50 minute flight to complete the flight to reach the heart of the United States,” said a statement on SI2’s website. “The objective is to reach New York as soon as possible!”
The take-off date and destination was kept a secret from the project’s international followers as Solar Impulse mission control, in Monaco, were awaiting a clear weather window to make the next flight.
“It is possible to run the world with #cleantech. As an explorer I am ready for this flight w/ #Si2,” Mr Piccard said on his Twitter account.
Last month, Mr Piccard successfully completed a trans-Pacific three-day flight when he took off from Hawaii and landed in California.
The Masdar-sponsored project began its journey last year, taking off from Abu Dhabi with plans of going around the world using only the power of the sun.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
