The sunshine-powered Solar Impulse electric aircraft has set off on its round-the-world flight. At 07:12 local time (UTC+4), the four-engine single-seater lifted off from Abu Dhabi airport heading east to Ahmedabad, India, with a stop enroute at Muscat, Oman for a change of pilot.
Andre Borschberg is flying the first leg to Oman, with Bertrand Piccard continuing the flight to Ahmedabad. Piccard and Borschberg will take turns flying the aircraft. SI2 has 17,248 solar panels in the 72-metre long wing, charging four lithium batteries in the fuselage – theoretically, SI2 has ‘perpetual endurance’.
The two pilots won’t have it easy! They will be living in a small unpressurised cockpit, unheated, with external temperatures ranging from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius. The biggest tests will be crossing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans which will each take in 5 days and 5 nights of nonstop flying. The aircraft has a max cruise speed of about 77 knots (140 km/h).
“What we want to do is to fly around the world in a plane which is powered by solar energy only,” said Borschberg. “Just the sun as a source of energy. Our object is to make this airplane a symbol about the potential of what we call the clean-tech industries. Airplanes make people dream. If we can fly around the world with a solar-powered airplane, then we can certainly demonstrate and implement all these clean technologies and applications on the ground.”
Today’s SI2 flight
At approximately 10:00 local time (GMT +4), Solar Impulse 2 will enter Omanian airspace in the region of Al Ain at an altitude of approximately 3,600 metres (12,000 ft). SI2 will continue to climb in the direction of Muscat reaching an altitude of approximately 5,800 metres (19,000 ft).
Once the aircraft reaches northern Muscat, Andre Borschberg will position the plane above the sea and loiter on a waiting pattern until traffic and weather conditions are suitable for landing. Solar Impulse 2 is estimated to arrive at Muscat International Airport is 19:00 local time.
The exact position of Solar Impulse 2 can be seen here: http://www.solarimpulse.com/sitv
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