Solar-Powered Plane Takes Off in First Attempt to Cross Pacific Ocean

Moscow (PNA/Sputnik) — Swiss experimental solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 took off from the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing to US Hawaii to cross the Pacific Ocean using only solar energy for the first time in the history, a statement on the official website of the project said Saturday.

The plane with pilot Andre Borschberg left Nanjing at 18:39 GMT time on Saturday, according to the statement.

An almost 8,500-kilometer (4,900-mile) Pacific crossing will take up to six days for the flight without a drop of fuel. The flight is observed by a control team in Monaco.

Solar Impulse completed its first flight from the capital of the United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi to the Oman’s city of Muscat in early March.

The Pacific crossing is the seventh leg out of 12 planned for the solar-powered aircraft to complete a round-the-world journey. (PNA/Sputnik) SCS/SSC