Al Batin, UAE
The plane “Solar Impulse II” took off today Airport Al Batin, the capital of the UAE, to make history I round the world in 12 steps without fuel, powered only by solar energy.
With the lights of dawn, the Swiss pilot André Borscheberg gained momentum at the controls of the prototype, the second of his generation, off the ground and quietly heading towards the goal of his first voyage, Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman.
About 400 kilometers and twelve hour flight, that can be followed live via a website, we separated the arrival airport.
Along the pilot, also takes part in this adventure Bertrand Piccard, who Borscheberg will take turns at the controls of the ship.
Two hundreds of people in open-top buses moved to the site to witness the beginning of this “solar adventure” which aims to mark a milestone: 35,000 travel miles without using a single drop of solid fuel
| The plane “Solar Impulse II” took off today Airport Al Batin ., in the capital of the United Arab Emirates
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The guests who witnessed his departure took positions at 06.00 am, local time, to look at ringside takeoff, which was recorded at 07.12 hours (03.12 GMT).
Among the observers, Tariq Nasraldín, a Saudi pilot, who told Efe have moved from Florida in the United States, to attend the first flight of the “Solar Impulse II” was.
“I’m a fan and I followed this project from the beginning. Bertrand Piccard has been an inspiration to me since I turn around the world globe. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a pilot and flight instructor, “said Nasraldín.
This journey, which will last for five months, including two stages of five or six days, in which Borscheberg and Piccard, founder of Solar Impulse project will attempt to cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
With his adventure intended to raise awareness about the use of “clean and efficient technologies” from contaminants traditional fuels.
The ship that will sail the ocean skies withstand temperatures of 40 and -40 degrees Celsius.
The aircraft has a huge “wings” -the 72 meter wingspan of a Boeing 747 Jumbo measure 68.5 metres-;. although its weight is about 2,300 kg
It is covered with a thin layer of carbon fiber which houses 17,248 solar cells that give a range of up to five nights and five days <. /> p>
The maximum speed at which the airplane can surf is 90 km / h at sea level and 140 km / hour at its maximum altitude of 8,500 meters.
The cab has a volume of 3.8 square meters, enough to store oxygen, food, water, parachutes and other equipment necessary for the pilot, and has an ergonomic seat that reclines so that the occupant can sit, stretch and even exercise.
This is the second prototype of this “dream”. The first, lighter and less powerful, made its first flight in 2010 and won, among others, traveling 26 hours straight, and cross the US from coast to coast in five stages.
The plane, advance at an average speed of 50 to 100 kilometers per hour, including the news that is completely sealed, so you can fly safely in the rain.
By day, the prototype will fly at an altitude of 8,500 meters and night to save energy, descend to 1,500 meters.
After his stop in Oman, the Solar Impulse II will leave behind Middle East, one of the symbols of the exploitation of fossil fuels to fly to the horizons of India, Burma and China.
Later, the pilots will fly the Pacific Ocean to the American island of Hawaii and the North American continent and will stop in Phoenix, Arizona and John Airport F. Kennedy in New York, later, into the Atlantic, hoping that the weather is benign them.
Solar Impulse will stop after in southern Europe and North Africa before concluding his world tour in the UAE Al Batin airport, next July or August, to close the circle and establish a new milestone for renewable energy.
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