(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Ahead of a planned 35,000km round-the-world tour to promote alternative energy, solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 made its second successful test flight in the United Arab Emirates over the outskirts of Abu Dhabi on Monday afternoon.
Solar Impulse 2 is the first solar-powered plane to be able to fly around the world - including a five-day stretch above the Pacific Ocean - without a drop of fuel.
Just before taking off, the pilot, Bertrand Piccard, who is also the initiator and chairman of Solar Impulse, dedicated his flight to General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
"I dedicate my first flight here in Abu Dhabi with Solar Impulse to Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has supported our project since the first time I met him, 10 years ago," said Piccard.
The hour-long test flight was the plane's second from Abu Dhabi's Al-Bateen Airport, but the first for Piccard, the descendant of a family of Swiss scientist-adventurers. The pilot reported no problems, mission chiefs said.
Piccard began working on his first solar airplane over a decade ago, but for this second aircraft, Solar Impulse 2, he joined forces with another Swiss pilot, Andre Borschberg, co-founder of Solar Impulse.
The project is the fruit of 13 years of research and testing by Piccard and Borschberg, whose idea was initially ridiculed by the aviation industry.
Both pilots, along with the solar airplane, were stationed at Al-Bateen airport for the past two months, preparing for their historical flight around the world.
They arrived here, along with 80 technicians, engineers and a communication team on January 6, conducting a variety of tests.
Borschberg was the first to test the plane last week, and, after Piccard took it for a spin as well. The duo is ready for take off, and is expected to head out for its around-the-globe trip this week.
Around the world in five months!
The light-weight carbon fibre aircraft weighs only 2.3 tonnes, about the same as a family 4X4 vehicle and is powered by more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings which, at 72 metres (236 feet), are almost as long as those of an Airbus A380 super jumbo.
Its round-the-world trip - that will take around five months - includes stops in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, USA, Southern Europe or North Africa depending on weather and other conditions and is scheduled to arrive back in Abu Dhabi in July.
The plane will take off from Abu Dhabi to Muscat in the neighbouring Sultanate of Oman before crossing the Arabian Sea to India. It will then head towards Myanmar, China, Hawaii and New York.
"From the operation point of view, this part of the world and the Middle East is the best location for us to start because it gives us the possibility to fly over India and China very early in the season," said Borschberg.
The plane is the successor to Solar Impulse, a smaller craft which notched up a 26-hour flight in 2010, proving its ability to store enough power in lithium batteries during the day to keep flying at night.
Solar Impulse 2 will travel at speeds of between 50 and 100 kilometres per hour (30 and 60 miles per hour), and will fly on a lower altitude during the night, 1500 metres, in order to save energy.
Borschberg and Piccard will alternate at the controls of the aircraft because it can only hold one pilot at a time.
Who is going to do the inaugural take off, is yet to be decided. "Maybe we'll flip a coin to decide," joked Piccard.
Its pilot will be linked to a control centre in Monaco where 65 weathermen, air traffic controllers and engineers will be stationed. A team of 65 support staff will travel with the two pilots.
"It is a historical first that we are trying to attempt," said Piccard, describing the planned tour as "very, very challenging and difficult".
"Physically we are fine. Borschberg is preparing himself with yoga (and) self-hypnosis."
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