Science

Solar Impulse Lands in Phoenix, prepares for trip to New York

Written By: Susanna Pilny
Brian Galloway

At 8:55 MST (10:55 EST) on May 2, Solar Impulse 2 and pilot André Borschberg landed safely in Phoenix, Arizona in Goodyear Airport—completing the first flight over the North American continent.

Just 15 hours and 52 minutes before, Borschberg had flown out of Moffett Airfield in California, where the solar-powered plane had been resting for a week following its flight from Hawaii to California. The journey was only 745 miles, but as the plane flew at a little less than 44 miles per hour (70 km/h) on average, the flight took longer than we are generally accustomed to for modern air travel. However, the length of time for the flight is completely excusable, as Solar Impulse 2 is a completely solar-powered airplane. Covered with more than 17,000 solar cells, it must store up energy in batteries during the day so that it can continue to fly at night—which necessitates slow flying both to save up energy and to make it last through the night. Solar Impulse 2 will leave as soon as possible for its next U.S. stopover—which will be somewhere in the Midwest. Of course, first it needs a good weather forecast, as well as a quick check-up:

Si2 will then perhaps make a second Midwest pit-stop before heading to New York. From there, it will leap the Atlantic Ocean to Europe, before eventually making it back to its starting point—Abu Dhabi—thereby completing the first circumnavigation of the planet using solar power.

If you live in Phoenix or happen to be visiting, you can go visit Solar Impulse at its hanger! Details below:

—–

Image credit: Solar Impulse