Historical world tour for the solar airplane Solar Impulse 2.
Arrived this morning at 4 am local time in Abu Dhabi for the first time a plane goes around the world using only renewable energy. Beginning in March 9, 2015, flying around the world more than 43 000 km lasted more than 1 year and 4 months. The solar plane was controlled from the center of Monaco and HSH Prince Albert II who supported this ambitious project, moved to Abu Dhabi to attend this historic landing. The two Swiss Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg who piloted the Solar Impulse 2 in turn, helped from the ground by teams of Monaco’s control center, realized a dream while entering history. And it will be Thursday and Friday in Monaco that the 130 people who investees project will celebrate the success.
Difficulties and achievements:
However, the journey was not initially lasted five months, including 25 days of actual flight but it was not counting the adverse weather conditions and multiple technical problems. This world tour in addition to being new, has enabled to establish a world record, one of the longest solo flight without refueling and nonstop directed by André Borschberg between Nagoya, Japan and Hawaii, and in five days five nights for a distance of 8924 km.
The journey :
This journey of 17 stage began in Abu Dhabi March 9, 2015, in turn Borschberg and Piccard role were replaced in Muscat in Oman, Ahmedabad in India and Varanasi in India. From there Piccard went to Mandalay in Burma, Chongqing and Nanjing in China. Then Borschberg flew to Nagoya in Japan and then to Hawaii in 44h 9min and 117h and 52min respectively. Arrived in Hawaii July 3, 2015, batteries Solar Impulse 2 being damaged, they had to be repaired and recharged. Only 8 months after April 21, 2016, that Piccard could take off again to San Francisco in the United States and in turn, the drivers went to Phoenix, Tulsa, Dayton, Lehigh and New York. June 23, 2016, Piccard crossed the Atlantic to Seville in Spain and Borschberg flew over the Mediterranean to Cairo in Egypt. Finally Piccard, left Cairo at 23:28 UTC, arrived at 0:05 UTC Abu Dhabi.
Statistics and flight conditions:
Solar plane traveled at an average speed of 77 km/h with an average maximum speed of 103.9 km/h between Varnasi and Mandalay. Solar Impulse 2 has a size of 72.3 m, it is 22.4 m long , 6.37 m high , weighing 2300 kg, it is provided with 17 248 photovoltaic cells and a cockpit 3.8 m2 without air conditioning or heating, equipped with a toilet area and the cabin is insulated with foam that reduces extreme temperature in flight. This experience was a real challenge for the drivers. Only while driving, the driver had to make micro-naps of 20 minutes and exercises morning and afternoon. The pilots returned full of hopes and ideas for the future.