Solar Impulse 2 takes off from California, starts solar-powered trek across US [View all]
Source: Fox News
Solar Impulse 2 takes off from California, starts solar-powered trek across US
By James Rogers · Published May 02, 2016 · FoxNews.com
File photo - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at the end of its journey from Hawaii, part of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) (AP2016)
Solar Impulse 2 has taken off from California on the tenth leg of its record-breaking solar-powered journey around the world. ... The plane took off from Moffett Airfield at 8:03 a.m. ET Monday, starting its trek across the U.S. Piloted by Andre Borschberg, Solar Impulse 2 is expected to arrive at Phoenix Goodyear Airport around 12:00 a.m. ET Tuesday after a 16-hour, 720-mile flight.
After Phoenix, the aircraft will make two stops in the Midwest before flying to New York. The Solar Impulse team wants to reach New York as soon as possible, according to a statement released on Monday. However, the plane’s Midwestern stops have not yet been confirmed. “The team is examining a wide range of potential destinations in the mainland to leave a maximum flexibility for route planning,” explained Solar Impulse, in its statement.
Related: Solar-powered plane lands in California, completing risky trip across Pacific
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Solar Impulse 2, a larger version of a single-seat prototype that first flew six years ago, is made of carbon fiber and has 17,248 solar cells built into the wing that supply the plane with renewable energy, via four motors. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries, which provide power for night flying. .... The aircraft typically flies between 30 mph and 40 mph, although this can increase and decrease significantly depending on wind speed.
Borschberg piloted Solar Impulse 2 on the eighth leg of its journey, landing in Hawaii on July 3 2015 after an incredible 4,480-mile, five -day flight from Japan. The 118-hour journey shattered the record for longest solar-powered flight in terms of distance and duration, easily surpassing the 1,491-mile, 44-hour record Borschberg set when flying from China to Japan on the prior leg of the trip. Borschberg also broke the record for longest non-stop solo flight without refueling, which previously stood at 76 hours and 45 minutes.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/05/02/solar-impulse-2-takes-off-from-california-starts-solar-powered-trek-across-us.html
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