Solar Impulse 2 is expected to land in Mountain View, California on schedule after taking off on Thursday for the nearly three-day ninth leg of its round-the-world journey.
The plane, piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, resumed its zero-fuel, round-the-world voyage from Oahu's Kalaeloa Airport in Hawaii at about 8.15pm UAE time on Thursday.
Piccard, who is expected to fly solo for about 62 hours across the Pacific Ocean, appeared upbeat on Twitter on Friday.
“Today is symbolic,” he said, noting that his solar-powered flight coincided with both Earth Day and signing of the Paris climate change agreement in New York.
He described how he felt while crossing the Pacific: “A strange sensation to be alone over the Pacific Ocean. A bit similar to what Amelia Earhart should have felt.”
“It took Amelia Earhart 18 hours to fly solo from Hawaii to California in 1935. It will take me a bit longer, but at least without any fuel.”
The aircraft landed in Hawaii last July but was grounded for nine months after suffering critical heat-related damage to its batteries during the previous leg of its round-the-world flight, in which co-pilot Andre Borschberg completed a historic five-day, 7,200km journey from Nagoya, Japan.
The mission began its journey in March last year from Abu Dhabi, then made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan.
“Solar Impulse and Masdar share a visionary spirit and a common goal of advancing renewable energy,” Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive of Masdar, said on Friday.
“Having accepted a challenge considered impossible by many, the pilots are redefining the world’s perception of what can be achieved through clean-tech innovation and of the possibilities of renewable energy.”
Emirati Hasan Al Redaini, who was in Hawaii for take-off, is working with the Solar Impulse team as the plane continues its journey.
“We are following each step of Si2’s journey with great excitement and are looking forward to welcoming the plane back to the UAE,” said Mr Al Ramahi. “Solar Impulse symbolises the positive potential of human endeavour, and we are inspired by its message of hope.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
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Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
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Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded