Solar Impulse 2 set a distance record for solar-powered aircraft after flying almost 800 nautical miles from Oman to India on the first leg of its around-the-world journey.
Si2 landed yesterday in Ahmedabad, India, with Solar Impulse project chairman and pilot Bertrand Piccard at the controls.
It was the longest point-to-point distance ever flown by a solar-powered airplane, breaking a record set by Solar Impulse 1 on a 748 nm flight over the United States in 2013. The Oman to India flight of 792 nm must be verified by air sports governing body Federation Aeronautique International to become official.
Si2 touched down Tuesday in the western state of Gujarat at 11:25 p.m. local time to finish its trip from the Oman capital Muscat in little less than 16 hours.
Much longer flights lie ahead for Si2 and its crew. The longest single leg of the planned circumnavigation will see one of the pilots fly solo nonstop for five days and nights across the Pacific Ocean from Nanjing, China, to Hawaii, a distance of 4,589 nm.
Solar Impulse 2 is powered by more than 17,000 solar cells built into wings that are wider than those of a Boeing 747.
The circumnavigation, which is to take place in 12 flights, will take about 25 days worth of flight time spread over five months.
Get exclusive online content like this delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for our free enewsletter.
