MOFFETT FIELD, California: A solar airplane took off Friday from California on its first attempt at a cross-country trip across the United States.
“Solar Impulse has successfully taken off from Moffett Air Field,” a traffic control operator said as the plane left the runway in the morning sunrise, describing it as a “perfect take-off.”
Piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, the plane is scheduled arrive in Phoenix, Arizona later tonight.
It will also stay over in Dallas, Texas and the US capital Washington, before arriving in New York in early July.
The journey allows for up to 10 days at each stop in order to showcase the plane’s technology to the public.
The plane could make the flight non-stop — which would take approximately three days, traveling at the aircraft’s cruising speed of around 43 miles (70 kilometers) per hour, its creators said.
But with space for only one pilot and the intensive task of navigating the ultra-light but ultra-long plane through turbulence, Solar Impulse decided, for safety reasons, to break the flight up into multiple stages.
That will allow two pilots — Piccard and his co-founder, Swiss engineer and ex-fighter pilot Andre Borschberg — to share duties and rest between legs.
The Solar Impulse plane has already made several trips, including a 26-hour flight in 2010, but this will mark its first trip across a continent.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription