Early Saturday morning Australian time, Solar Impulse 2 arrived safely in Hawaii after a historic flight that broke multiple records.
André Borschberg landed the solar powered airplane in Kalaeloa after a non-stop flight of 5 days and nights (4 Days, 21 Hours, 52 Minutes to be exact). Well before the landing, after nearly three days and nights, Mr. Borschberg broke a durance and distance records he had set in early June – 44 hours, 10 minutes, and 2,614.5 kilometers.
7212 km was covered by Solar Impulse 2 in the Japan to Hawaii leg, fully on solar energy. The 72 metre wingspan craft is coated in 17,000 solar cells that power four electric motors and charge a lithium ion battery bank weighing well over half a tonne.
“What André has achieved is extraordinary from the perspective of a pilot,” said teammate Bertrand Piccard. “This oceanic flight to Hawaii demonstrates that if technological solutions exist to fly a plane day and night without fuel, then there is potential for these same efficient technologies to be used in our daily lives, and to achieve energy savings to reduce CO2 emissions.”
Mr. Piccard said he hopes the feat inspires people to signs a petition on FutureIsClean.org; which serves to try and convince governments around the world to boost uptake of clean technology solutions.
Mr. Borschberg, who also led the project’s technical team, was ecstatic about his accomplishment.
“I feel exhilarated by this extraordinary journey,” he said. “This success fully validates the vision that my partner Bertrand Piccard had after his round-the-world balloon flight to reach unlimited endurance in an airplane without fuel.”
The journey was made possible in part by technology partner, solar inverter manufacturer ABB. ABB’s expertise resulted in boosted power yields from the solar cells and enhanced the charging electronics for Solar Impulse 2’s Li-ion battery systems.
“Solar Impulse flies to Hawaii – and into history. Congratulations, Solar Impulse! You inspire the world,” said ABB.
After a well- earned break, Solar Impulse’s next stops are within continental USA before it tackles another formidable challenge – across the Atlantic Ocean to southern Europe or North Africa.
