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They made it to Hawaii
A plane powered by the sun's rays has landed in Hawaii after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan.
http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/state-wire/solar-powered-plane-lands-hawaii-after-flight-japan
Solar Impulse Plane Lands in Hawaii
Solar Impulse, the aeroplane that is powered only by the sun, has landed in Hawaii after making a historic 7,200km flight across the Pacific from Japan. Pilot Andre Borschberg brought the vehicle gently down on to the runway of Kalaeloa Airport at 05:55 local time (15:55 GMT; 16:55 BST).
The distance covered and the time spent in the air - 118 hours - are records for manned, solar-powered flight. The duration is also an absolute record for a solo, un-refuelled journey. Mr Borschberg's time betters that of the American adventurer Steve Fossett who spent 76 hours aloft in a single-seater jet in 2006.
Despite being in the cockpit for so long, the Swiss pilot told the BBC that he did not feel that tired: "Interestingly, not really. "I am also astonished. We got so much support during the flight from so many people; it gave me so much energy."
Pretty amazing feat. Not only the longest solo flight, but also without burning a drop of fuel.
Original Submission
(Score: 3, Interesting) by captain normal on Saturday July 04 2015, @03:48PM
Speaking of routing, there is one other consideration: If they don't see a favorable window in the weather soon, by the middle of August they will lose 30 minutes of daylight. That might be critical in the next leg.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--