Solar Impulse

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Solar Flight Just Made History
 Solar Flight Just Made History 
Jul 25, 2016 8:21 PM CDT

Solar Flight Just Made History

Solar Impulse 2 lands in Abu Dhabi, completing an around-the-world flight

(Newser) - The world's first around-the-world flight to be powered solely by the sun's energy made history Tuesday as it landed in Abu Dhabi, where it first took off on an epic 25,000-mile journey that began more than a year ago, reports the AP . Since its March 2015 takeoff,...

Solar-Powered Plane Makes It to NYC

It soared over the Statute of Liberty

(Newser) - A solar-powered airplane has landed in New York City on the latest leg of its globe-circling voyage. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 soared over the Statue of Liberty and flew into New York City, before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport early Saturday morning, the AP reports. The plane,...

Solar Impulse Completes Risky Pacific Leg, Lands in Calif.

Plane has landed safely in Mountain View after 62-hour flight

(Newser) - A solar-powered airplane landed in California on Saturday, completing a risky, three-day flight across the Pacific Ocean as part of its journey around the world. Pilot Bertrand Piccard landed the Solar Impulse 2 in Mountain View, south of San Francisco, at 11:45pm following a 62-hour, nonstop solo flight without...

Solar Plane, Grounded Since July, Resumes Quest

Next stop: California

(Newser) - A solar plane on an around-the-world journey has reached the point of no return over the Pacific Ocean after departing Hawaii, and now it's California or bust, the AP reports. The plane was cruising over the cold northern Pacific late Thursday at about 20,000 feet with a nearly-full...

Solar Plane Stuck in Hawaii Until 2016

Due to irreversible damage caused by overheating batteries

(Newser) - A team trying to fly a solar-powered plane around the world said today it is suspending the journey in Hawaii after the plane suffered battery damage during its record-breaking flight to the islands . The Solar Impulse team said in a news release that it will continue the attempt to circumnavigate...

Historic Solar Flight Passes 'Point of No Return'

120-hour journey from Japan to end in Kalaeloa, Hawaii

(Newser) - Round two of the Solar Impulse's toughest leg is under way. After the solar plane's first attempt to cross the Pacific was interrupted a month ago , flight engineers spotted what the Japan Times calls a "possible cloudless stretch." That allowed pilot Andre Borschberg to take off...

Solar Plane's Tough Pacific Flight Interrupted

Team will make unexpected stop in Japan en route to Hawaii

(Newser) - A solar plane attempting to fly around the world without a drop of fuel plans to make an unscheduled stop tonight in Nagoya, Japan, because of bad weather. Swiss pilot André Borschberg took off from Nanjing, China, yesterday on what was to be the longest leg of the journey, a...

Solar Plane Preparing for Toughest Journey

Solar Impulse 2's Pacific crossing could begin as soon as Thursday

(Newser) - Two months after beginning a 21,700-mile , round-the-world journey, the Solar Impulse 2 is about to embark on its toughest challenge yet: a Pacific Ocean crossing. While a typical aircraft can make the trip in 12 hours, the Impulse 2, which runs entirely on solar power and travels between 20mph...

Solar-Powered Plane Starts 2nd Leg of Epic Journey

Solar Impulse 2 flying from Oman to India today

(Newser) - A Swiss-made solar-powered aircraft took off just after dawn today from Muscat, Oman, bound for India for the second leg—and its first sea crossing—in a historic round-the-world trip. Pilot Bertrand Piccard was at the controls of the single-seater Solar Impulse 2, which is making the 910-mile journey from...

Solar Plane Begins Round-the-World Flight

'Solar Impulse' journey will take 5 months

(Newser) - With its wings stretched wide to catch the sun's energy, a Swiss-made solar-powered aircraft took off from Abu Dhabi just after daybreak today in a historic first attempt to fly around the world without a drop of fossil fuel. Solar Impulse founder André Borschberg was at the controls of...

Solar Plane Lands in NYC, Wraps Epic Journey

Wing tear aborts planned fly-by of Statue of Liberty

(Newser) - The Solar Impulse sent its cross-continental odyssey into the history books last night, reports the AP , landing at New York's JFK Airport at 11:09pm to complete the journey's final leg. The plane, powered by about 11,000 solar cells and that glowing orb in the sky, left...

Solar Plane Sets Distance Record in 18-Hour Flight

But Phoenix-Dallas flight wasn't exactly shredding any speed records

(Newser) - The Solar Impulse—the entirely solar-powered plane you have to be a little bit crazy to fly —isn't even close to finished with its ambitious cross-country odyssey , but it's already made history. The Impulse broke its own record for the longest solar-powered flight today when it landed...

First Cross-Country Solar-Fueled Flight Takes Off

Pilots to undergo amazing physical feat of endurance

(Newser) - A solar-powered plane took off this morning for what will be the first exclusively sun-fueled cross-country flight . The Solar Impulse left a California airfield at 6am, and should ultimately land in Washington by mid-June, with five stops along the way, the Washington Post reports. It's the first solar-powered plane...

Solar-Powered Plane Ready for Toughest Flight Yet

Solar Impulse will take off May 1, cross country

(Newser) - Solar Impulse is ready for its toughest challenge yet: Starting May 1, the sun-powered plane will begin a long, slow trip from California to the other side of the United States, reports the Mercury News . With four 10-horsepower engines, the Solar Impulse flies at 35 miles per hour—that's...

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