Solar Impulse 2 plane grounded due to bad weather in China

Published on : Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Solar-ImpulseThe Solar Impulse 2 is the first experimental plane attempting to fly round the world without fuel; however the weather in China has forced the plane to pause its journey. An overnight pit stop in the southwestern city of Chongqing has now extended into a two-and-a-half week stay.

 

Piccard, along with Andre Borschberg, a Swiss engineer, are taking turns flying the single-seater aircraft, which started its journey from Abu Dhabi on March 9 and has successfully flown through Oman, India, and Myanmar. But so far, the Solar Impulse 2 has been spending a lot of time on the ground.

 

There is much at stake. According to pilots their mission 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.

 

Due to the cross a wind in Nanjing, the Thursday takeoff was canceled, the plane’s destination, were forecast to be too strong around its expected landing time.

 

Because of its weight, at just 2,300 kilograms, the aircraft needs perfect weather conditions, in order to fly, including cross winds of less than 4 knots, or about 7 kilometers an hour. The team is clearly eager to move on.

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