Solar-powered plane to resume round-the-world flight

Solar Impulse 2 pilot Andre Borschberg (left) confers with Bob Stojanovic of ABB Group - Automation and Power Technologies Director of Microgrids, during a press conference at Kalealoa Airport in Kapolei, Hawaii on April 15. The Solar Impulse 2 sun-powered plane is set to resume its record-breaking flight around the world within days. (AFP photo)

The sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft will resume its around-the-world voyage early Thursday after spending nine months on the ground because of a fried battery and winter's lack of ample sunlight.

The plane, piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, will take off from Hawaii bound for Mountain View, California, where it is scheduled to land as early as Saturday night.

Last year, Mr Piccard and fellow pilot Andre Borschberg set out to circumnavigate the globe in the plane without using fuel or spewing polluting emissions. The two have alternated who pilots the one-man craft.

The first leg began March 9, 2015, in Abu Dhabi, when Mr Borschberg flew 13 hours to land in Muscat, Oman. The trip continued with several more legs across Asia before Mr Borschberg completed the world's longest nonstop solo flight, a four-day, 21-hour and 52-minute excursion from Japan to Hawaii.

But that record-breaking flight damaged the plane's battery. Because of the time needed to repair it and the decreasing sunlight as a result of the changing seasons, the pilots called off their attempt to complete the trip in a single year.

The pilots must avoid clouds during their flights because the plane needs clear skies to recharge its batteries. Staying away from turbulence and strong winds is also important for the lightweight aircraft.

Meteorologists, air traffic controllers, engineers and mathematicians will keep an eye on the plane from a control centre in Monaco to ensure the latest flight goes smoothly.

After California, Solar Impulse will land at one or two locations in the Midwest and later in New York City.

It's scheduled to undertake two final flights over the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea before landing back in Abu Dhabi.

Solar-powered plane to resume round-the-world flight

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