Solar plane ends cross-U.S. journey
- 11 years ago
A plane lands in darkness in New York after a flight powered entirely by the sun.
Named the Solar Impulse, the craft successfully completed a journey across the U.S. when it touched down at John F. Kennedy Airport Saturday night.
The last leg of a voyage that began more than two months ago was shortened after an 8-foot tear appeared on the left wing.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOLAR IMPULSE INITIATOR, CHAIRMAN AND PILOT, DR. BERTRAND PICCARD, SAYING:
"This is a full success because actually the only thing that failed on the plane was a piece of fabric, a piece of normal fabric. But everything that had to do with energy, solar cells, batteries, electrical motors... all of that is a complete success. We had no failure."
With 12,000 solar cells in its wings, it's the first solar powered plane capable of operating both day and night to fly across the U.S.
Named the Solar Impulse, the craft successfully completed a journey across the U.S. when it touched down at John F. Kennedy Airport Saturday night.
The last leg of a voyage that began more than two months ago was shortened after an 8-foot tear appeared on the left wing.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOLAR IMPULSE INITIATOR, CHAIRMAN AND PILOT, DR. BERTRAND PICCARD, SAYING:
"This is a full success because actually the only thing that failed on the plane was a piece of fabric, a piece of normal fabric. But everything that had to do with energy, solar cells, batteries, electrical motors... all of that is a complete success. We had no failure."
With 12,000 solar cells in its wings, it's the first solar powered plane capable of operating both day and night to fly across the U.S.