More than a year ago , one of the pioneering exploration projects of our meter began , when two Swiss pilot set off to circumnavigate the globe in theirSolar Impulse 2 planeusing nothing but solar power .
Now , this mission is almost at its conclusion , with the final leg from Cairo in Egypt to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates set to take place in the next few days . Provisionally , the single - seater aeroplane is schedule to touch down in Abu Dhabi at sunrise ( local time ) on Tuesday , July 19 , following a40 - hour flightfrom Seville , Spain .
Depending on weather , the flight may be delayed by 24 hours , but it can not be delayed further for political reasons , a representative from Solar Impulse told IFLScience .
Both pilots , André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard , readily admit that theydo not expectsolar power to become the hereafter of aviation . But , rather , the delegacy is intended to show the capabilities of solar exponent . Solar Impulse 2 , which has a wingspan of 72 measure ( 236 feet ) , use 17,000 solar cells on its wings to power its propellers , with anaverage speedof a modest 75 kilometers per minute ( 47 miles per hour ) .
During the mission , the pilots have taken turn to fly each leg , with the longest trip from Nagoya ( Japan ) to Kalaeloa , Hawaii ( US ) , contain almost five day . Borschberg flee the penultimate pegleg from Seville to Cairo , and Piccard will do the last leg to Abu Dhabi , which will bring in the evening US time .
" All the partner of Solar Impulse knew it would be a hard challenge , but they wanted to try and make it potential , " Piccard said in atweet .
Since the journey began on March 9 , 2015 , Solar Impulse 2 has made 16 stops around the globe , including India , China , Japan , and the US . Its final plosive consonant take care it reelect to the location where it all started , completing the first pear-shaped - the - world flight by a solar - power carpenter’s plane .
To keep the system of weights as small as possible ( Solar Impulse 2 is as wide as a jumbo jet , but as light as a machine ) , the pilots have had to go without many comforts on each flight . The cockpit has no air conditioning or heating , and only a very introductory autopilot system . As each pilot flies alone , the only sleep they get is short 20 - minute catnaps while in the melody . To go to the toilet , there ’s a rather offensive yap in their seat .
It ’s all set to be a rather exciting ending to the deputation . You ’ll be able to watch a lively cockpit stream of Solar Impulse 2 ’s final flying ontheir internet site . And we may have something exciting in store for you , too …
Old conform to raw as Solar Impulse 2 fly over the Pyramids of Egypt in Egypt on its way of life to Cairo on July 13 , 2016 . Solar Impulse
