The revolutionary aircraft Solar Impulse 2 (Si2), constrained by the vagaries of weather in an unexpected stopover in Japan, was preparing Tuesday to an expectation of uncertain duration on the tarmac of Nagoya, before resuming his journey to Hawaii.
The calm prevailed at the airport after the bustle of the day, was a journalist from AFP. Only a few curious trying to spot the unusual craft from a nearby park.
At the time of landing, the stunned inhabitants thought they saw a UFO, some even calling the local police.
The Swiss pilot André Borschberg took up in turn forces the day after a hectic trip. He was to be joined later in the day by team members who bring in their luggage a large inflatable hangar to protect the unit from weather.
“Si2 is now parked in Nagoya. What a flight! Look forward to continuing this journey with Bertrand Piccard, “buddy, wrote 62 years adventurer on his Twitter account on the night (local time).
He took airs Sunday at 2:39 (6:39 p.m. GMT Saturday) from Nanjing (Eastern China) to the most dangerous stage of its world tour to promote renewable energy, particularly solar energy.
But his Pacific crossing, supposed to last six days and nights for a distance of 8,500 km, was cut short when the weather deteriorated and the plane had to land Monday shortly before midnight (1500 GMT) in Nagoya (central Japan).
“Congratulations, Andrew, for this fantastic flight,” launched his team in a message with a picture boasting his achievement: “3265 km and 45 hours alone in the sky,” “the most long solar flight ever made in both distance and time. “
” Part accomplished in the Pacific. Impatient to continue as soon as weather permits, “for his part tweeted Mr Piccard.
Earlier, he had told AFP that it was wiser to” make a landing Intermediate to Nagoya and then wait until the weather conditions improve. ” “It was the last place we could land safely. Small islands here and there in the Pacific are not alternatives at all “
-. ‘Not a race’ –
” Around the world can not advance -be not as fast as we would like, but it is not a race. The goal is to get there, “he stressed.
This impromptu stop does not affect the project, said Mr Borschberg reporters shortly after landing.
2 Solar Impulse, whose wings are covered with more than 17,000 photovoltaic cells, has a wingspan of 72 meters, or more than that of a Boeing 747, and an initial weight of 2.3 tonnes, reduced to the occasion.
This futuristic device was left on March 9 Abu Dhabi to a world tour of 35,000 kilometers, both technological challenge and aviation achievement. He then made a stop in Oman, India, Burma and China, where it remained grounded over a month due to inclement weather.
Before this Nanjing-Nagoya trip, the plane had never flown that long. “The dream became reality engineers (…) Solar Impulse could pass safely overnight without a drop of gasoline, recharge at sunrise and go forward,” enthused Bertrand Piccard quickly forgetting its first “disappointment” with the announcement of the forced stopover.
To keep pace, André Borschberg was required to a rigorous program, punctuated with yoga and exercises are short twenty minutes in his seat, equipped with a toilet system .
In its unpressurized cabin car, the driver is subjected to harsh conditions, facing the Himalayan altitudes and change in 55 degree temperatures.
“In the worst case, we have a parachute, a life raft and knows how to use. Obviously, we hope we will not have to do that, “launched the Swiss driver.
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