LOS ANGELES: Solar Impulse, the first aircraft that can fly day and night fueled entirely by energy from the sun, embarked yesterday on the second leg of its historic journey across the American continent.
The solar-powered airplane departed at 1147 GMT from an airport in Phoenix, Arizona en route to Dallas, Texas, a trip of about 830 miles (1,300 kilometers), in a bid to set a new world distance record in solar aviation.
The first leg of Solar Impulse’s travel took place on May 3, when Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard flew the aircraft from the San Francisco, California area to Phoenix.
On Wednesday, Swiss fellow adventurer Andre Borschberg was at the controls flying the craft to Dallas.
The previous distance record, which is already held by Solar Impulse, was attained by Solar Impulse one year ago on a 1,116 kilometer flight from Switzerland to Spain.
Solar-powered plane aims for new world distance record
Solar-powered plane aims for new world distance record
