Si2

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) pilot André Borschberg has successfully completed the non-stop flight and longest stage of the round-the-world flight, after safely landing in Hawaii, US.

Borschberg has so far flown the solar-powered aircraft for 117h and 52min over the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft started in Japan on 28 June.

Si2 touched down at Kalaeloa Airport after travelling a distance of around 7,200km.

Borschberg said: "This success fully validates the vision that my partner Bertrand Piccard had after his round-the-world balloon flight to reach unlimited endurance in an airplane without fuel."

"What André has achieved is extraordinary from the perspective of a pilot."

Last week, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has ratified the longest ever solo flight record of the zero-fuel aircraft.

Solar Impulse co-founder, chairman and pilot Bertrand Piccard said: "What André has achieved is extraordinary from the perspective of a pilot.

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"But furthermore, he has also led the technical team during the construction of this revolutionary prototype. It is not only a historic first in aviation it is also a historic first for renewable energies."

Piccard will now take the controls of the flight for the next crossing to the US mainland. The aircraft will then continue across North America, passing Phoenix, mid-US and New York, before flying to Europe, and finally on to Abu Dhabi.

Si2 is the upgraded version of the solar-powered prototype Solar Impulse 1 and has a wingspan of 72m.

Image: Solar Impulse 2 with André Borschberg on the controls landed at Kalaeloa Airport. Photo: courtesy of Solar Impulse SA.