Solar-powered plane gets stuck in China
The Solar Impulse 2, the experimental plane attempting to fly around the world without using a drop of fuel, has been grounded by the weather in China.
What was supposed to be an overnight pit stop in the southwestern city of Chongqing has now stretched into a two-and-a-half week stay.
It's an unexpected layover that is testing the patience of the pilots and more than 60 team members, just a quarter of the way along a journeythat will cover some 35,000 kilometers (21,748 miles) over five months.
"You can believe that your will can influence the weather," says pilot Bertrand Piccard, who comes from a long family line of explorers. But "then you'llbe really disappointed because it doesn't work."Or you just know that it's an adventure you do withthe forces of nature.
"Piccard, along with Andre Borschberg, a Swiss engineer, are taking turns flying the single-seater aircraft, which took off from Abu Dhabi on March 9and has successfully flown through Oman, India, and Myanmar.There is much at stake.
Their mission, which the pilots say is aimed at proving the power of renewable energy, and inspiring innovation, has been 12 years in the making. In many ways, it has become Piccard and Borschberg's raison d'etre.Small window for departureBut so far, the Solar Impulse 2 has been spending a lot of time on the ground.
The latest setback came when a Thursday takeoff was canceled, because the cross winds in Nanjing,the plane's destination, were forecast to be too strong around its expected landing time.
What was supposed to be an overnight pit stop in the southwestern city of Chongqing has now stretched into a two-and-a-half week stay.
It's an unexpected layover that is testing the patience of the pilots and more than 60 team members, just a quarter of the way along a journeythat will cover some 35,000 kilometers (21,748 miles) over five months.
"You can believe that your will can influence the weather," says pilot Bertrand Piccard, who comes from a long family line of explorers. But "then you'llbe really disappointed because it doesn't work."Or you just know that it's an adventure you do withthe forces of nature.
"Piccard, along with Andre Borschberg, a Swiss engineer, are taking turns flying the single-seater aircraft, which took off from Abu Dhabi on March 9and has successfully flown through Oman, India, and Myanmar.There is much at stake.
Their mission, which the pilots say is aimed at proving the power of renewable energy, and inspiring innovation, has been 12 years in the making. In many ways, it has become Piccard and Borschberg's raison d'etre.Small window for departureBut so far, the Solar Impulse 2 has been spending a lot of time on the ground.
The latest setback came when a Thursday takeoff was canceled, because the cross winds in Nanjing,the plane's destination, were forecast to be too strong around its expected landing time.
Comments
Post a Comment