Solar Impulse lands in Oman after first leg of world flight

ABU DHABI // A bid to enter the record books for the first solar-powered flight around the world successfully finished its first leg on Monday night, from Abu Dhabi to Oman.

Solar Impulse 2 left Al Bateen Executive Airport at 7.15am and landed at Muscat International Airport in Oman at 8.10pm.

Chief engineer Andre Borschberg flew the first leg of about 400 kilometres while the ground team prepared for the plane’s arrival in Oman.

It landed little more than an hour behind schedule because of strong winds.

Mr Borschberg tweeted that he was extremely happy to have landed safely in Oman, adding: “Looking forward to the rest of our adventure.”

Bertrand Piccard, co-pilot and founder of Solar Impulse, also expressed his joy, tweeting: “Congratulations to you, @andreborschberg, and to the whole @solarimpulse team!”

A crowd gathered near the runway to welcome the pilot, who stayed in the cockpit as the aircraft was pushed off the runway.

The ground team opened the plane door and said on their official Twitter account that Mr Borschberg was “hot after almost 12 hours of flight”.

The solar-powered aircraft, which has a 72-metre wingspan and weighs 2,300 kilograms, is extremely susceptible to turbulence. It has room for one man.

Take-off was delayed by 45 minutes after an electrical failure on the runway threatened to stall the already postponed departure date, said Mr Piccard.

Mr Borschberg spent several hours in a holding pattern over the Gulf of Oman while the ground wind calmed.

Prince Albert II of Monaco was present at the Mission Control Centre in Monaco and praised Mr Borschberg for the flight and his landing.

“I wanted to be here for the landing in Muscat,” Prince Albert said. “It was beautiful, the city lights with the lights of the plane.

“I was able to talk to Andre. He was happy and positive and not too tired. He is an incredibly strong man. The flight went well, everybody is happy, there was a lot of power left.”

Lithium batteries on board the craft allow it to fly at night. It travels at up to 100kph, but slower at night to conserve energy.

The Solar Impulse team is due to continue their journey today, with Mr Piccard taking over controls for the leg to Ahmedabad, India – an 18-hour flight across the Arabian Sea.

The second leg will be the longest continuous stretch ever tried.

The team says it will be a crucial indicator of the plane’s performance.

The two men will alternate piloting duties throughout the 12 legs, landing in 12 countries, with Solar Impulse set to cover 35,000km in 25 days, spread out over five months.

“With our attempt to complete the first solar powered round-the-world flight, we want to demonstrate that clean technology and renewable energy can achieve the impossible,” Mr Borschberg said.

“We want youth, leaders, organisations and policymakers to understand that what Solar Impulse can achieve in the air, everyone can accomplish on the ground in their everyday lives.”

He said that on the plane’s successful return to Abu Dhabi, it will be refitted to function as a solar-powered drone to help develop the energy sector.

“The next step will be to build an unmanned version of the airplane that will fly higher than this one and to replace satellites,” Mr Borschberg said.

“This will be an easy and sustainable way to solve part of the challenges we have.”

Mr Piccard said: “We want to show that climate change is a chance to develop new technologies, fantastic opportunities to change and create jobs.

“We want to demonstrate that clean technology and renewable energy can achieve the impossible.”

The progress of the plane can be followed live on the official website and its YouTube channel.

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About this package:

The solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 plane took off at 7.15am on Monday morning for Muscat, in its first leg of the journey before continuing on to India and subsequently around the world. The two-man team, comprised of pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, will alternate duties throughout the 12 legs. There is only room for one pilot in the cockpit, so the sole pilot must be self-reliant throughout their journeys. The Swiss pilots will have to alternate 20-minute windows of sleep adding up to just three hours of sleep a day, or 15 hours for the entire trip. Specific food has also been developed to provide the men with necessary nutrients while withstanding the significant changes in temperature. Travelling alongside the Solar Impulse team is former Mubadala employee Hasan Al Redaini, 25, who will also assist in the coordination of lectures and demonstrations intended to educate communities from each of the 12 countries about solar energy.

More on the Solar Impulse flight:

■ Solar Impulse 2 takes off from Abu Dhabi for first leg of its round-the-world flight

■ Emirati to travel the world with Solar Impulse team

■ Solar Impulse pilots will sleep in 20-minute instalments

dmoukhallati@thenational.ae

* Additional reporting by Naser Al Wasmi