Solar Plane Leaves for Hawaii after Monthlong Layover in Japan

(PNA/Kyodo) — A solar-powered plane circumnavigating the globe left for Hawaii early Monday morning after a nearly month-long layover in Japan to avoid bad weather.

Solar Impulse 2, carrying Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg, took off from Nagoya airfield shortly after 3 a.m., where it had been since it made an unexpected landing on the way from Nanjing, China on June 1 due to poor weather. The duration of the flight to Hawaii is expected to be 120 hours — five days and nights — the longest trip for the plane.

The around-the-world trip, without a drop of fuel, has been arranged by a Swiss organization. The aircraft, operated by two alternating pilots, began its journey from the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi in March, and landed in countries including India and Myanmar before it arrived in Nanjing on April 21. (PNA/Kyodo) FFC/SSC