solar airplane

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Solar-Powered Plane Makes It to NYC

It soared over the Statute of Liberty

(Newser) - A solar-powered airplane has landed in New York City on the latest leg of its globe-circling voyage. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 soared over the Statue of Liberty and flew into New York City, before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport early Saturday morning, the AP reports. The plane,...

Solar Plane, Grounded Since July, Resumes Quest

Next stop: California

(Newser) - A solar plane on an around-the-world journey has reached the point of no return over the Pacific Ocean after departing Hawaii, and now it's California or bust, the AP reports. The plane was cruising over the cold northern Pacific late Thursday at about 20,000 feet with a nearly-full...

Solar Plane Makes History in Hawaii

Pilot makes it across Pacific, hardest leg of round-the-world trip

(Newser) - A solar plane made aviation history today, and its historic journey is nowhere near over. The Solar Impulse 2, controlled by Swiss pilot André Borschberg, landed in Hawaii after a five-day, 4,000-mile trip over the Pacific Ocean from Japan, reports USA Today . The feat is just one leg on...

Historic Solar Flight Passes 'Point of No Return'

120-hour journey from Japan to end in Kalaeloa, Hawaii

(Newser) - Round two of the Solar Impulse's toughest leg is under way. After the solar plane's first attempt to cross the Pacific was interrupted a month ago , flight engineers spotted what the Japan Times calls a "possible cloudless stretch." That allowed pilot Andre Borschberg to take off...

Solar Plane Preparing for Toughest Journey

Solar Impulse 2's Pacific crossing could begin as soon as Thursday

(Newser) - Two months after beginning a 21,700-mile , round-the-world journey, the Solar Impulse 2 is about to embark on its toughest challenge yet: a Pacific Ocean crossing. While a typical aircraft can make the trip in 12 hours, the Impulse 2, which runs entirely on solar power and travels between 20mph...

Solar-Powered Plane Starts 2nd Leg of Epic Journey

Solar Impulse 2 flying from Oman to India today

(Newser) - A Swiss-made solar-powered aircraft took off just after dawn today from Muscat, Oman, bound for India for the second leg—and its first sea crossing—in a historic round-the-world trip. Pilot Bertrand Piccard was at the controls of the single-seater Solar Impulse 2, which is making the 910-mile journey from...

Solar Plane Completes 24-Hour Flight

Team proves sun can power plane more or less indefinitely

(Newser) - An experimental solar-powered plane landed safely today after completing its first 24-hour test flight, proving that the aircraft can collect enough energy from the sun during the day to stay aloft all night. Pilot Andre Borschberg eased the Solar Impulse onto the runway at Payerne airfield in Switzerland at exactly...

Solar Plane Attempts 24-Hour Test Flight

Weighs as much as a car, with the wingspan of an airliner

(Newser) - An experimental solar-powered plane whose makers hope to one day circle the globe using only energy collected from the sun took off for its first 24-hour test flight today. The plane, which weighs about as much as a car but has a 262.5-foot wingspan, left Payerne airfield in Switzerland...

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