{"version":"1.1","identifier":"post-23666","language":"en","title":"Solar flight completes first round-the-world journey in Abu Dhabi","documentStyle":{"backgroundColor":"#fafafa"},"layout":{"columns":16,"width":1024,"margin":100,"gutter":20},"components":[{"role":"container","layout":"headerPhotoLayout","style":{"fill":{"type":"image","URL":"bundle:\/\/13767247_1195995787098261_3780676576219278388_o-e1469526178247.jpg","fillMode":"cover"}},"behavior":{"type":"background_parallax","factor":0.4},"components":[{"role":"container","layout":"headerPhotoLayout","style":{"fill":{"type":"image","URL":"bundle:\/\/13767247_1195995787098261_3780676576219278388_o-e1469526178247.jpg","fillMode":"cover"}},"behavior":{"type":"background_parallax","factor":0.4},"components":[{"role":"title","text":"Solar flight completes first round-the-world journey in Abu Dhabi","layout":"title-layout","textStyle":"header-title","anchor":{"targetAnchorPosition":"bottom","originAnchorPosition":"top"},"behavior":{"type":"parallax","factor":1.05}},{"role":"title","text":"Karthik Thiru","layout":"AuthorLayout","textStyle":"author-byline"},{"role":"byline","text":"Lonely Planet Editor","layout":"AuthorLayoutOrg","textStyle":"author-org-byline"}]}]},{"role":"container","layout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true},"style":{"backgroundColor":"#fafafa"},"components":[{"role":"body","text":"The world\u2019s first round-the-world flight to be powered solely by the sun\u2019s energy has made history, landing in [Abu Dhabi](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/united-arab-emirates\/abu-dhabi), where it first took off on an epic 25,000-mile journey that began more than a year ago.\n\n\u00a0","format":"markdown","textStyle":"dropcapBodyStyle","layout":"body-layout"},{"role":"photo","URL":"bundle:\/\/13767247_1195995787098261_3780676576219278388_o-e1469526178247.jpg","layout":"anchor-layout-right","anchor":{"targetAnchorPosition":"center","rangeStart":0,"rangeLength":1,"targetComponentIdentifier":"component-64f37759edb17d9c9f15e3a9db6040a7"}},{"role":"body","text":"Since its March 2015 take-off, the Swiss-engineered Solar Impulse 2 has made 16 stops across the world without using a drop of fuel to demonstrate that using the plane\u2019s clean technologies on the ground can halve the world\u2019s energy consumption, save natural resources and improve quality of life.\n\n\u201cOur mission now is to continue to motivate people, corporations and governments to use these same solutions on the ground wherever they make sense,\u201d Solar Impulse chairman and pilot Bertrand Piccard said in a statement before landing the plane in the [United Arab Emirates](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/united-arab-emirates).\n\nThe aircraft is uniquely powered by 17,248 solar cells that transfer energy to four electrical motors that power the plane\u2019s propellers. It runs on four lithium polymer batteries at night. The plane\u2019s wingspan stretches 236 feet to catch the sun\u2019s energy.\n\n\u00a0","format":"markdown","textStyle":"default-body","layout":"body-layout","identifier":"component-64f37759edb17d9c9f15e3a9db6040a7"},{"role":"photo","URL":"bundle:\/\/1469518301-c01726a70312ac4cf5f098fd4b187f6a-600x450.jpg","layout":"anchor-layout-right","anchor":{"targetAnchorPosition":"center","rangeStart":0,"rangeLength":1,"targetComponentIdentifier":"component-aad06e8424103117238cdb849bb8ad06"}},{"role":"body","text":"At around 5,070lbs, the plane weighs about as much as a mini-van or mid-sized lorry. An empty Boeing 747, in comparison, weighs 400,000lbs. To help steady it during take-offs and landings, the plane was guided by runners and cyclists.\n\nDespite its historic mission, the Solar Impluse 2\u2032s journey was far from quick or problem-free.\u00a0The pilots faced a nine-month delay a year ago after the plane\u2019s batteries were damaged during a flight from [Japan](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/japan) to [Hawaii](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/usa\/hawaii). It was also delayed for more than a week in [Cairo](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/egypt\/cairo) ahead of its final flight to Abu Dhabi when Piccard fell ill, and due to poor weather conditions.\n\n\u00a0","format":"markdown","textStyle":"default-body","layout":"body-layout","identifier":"component-aad06e8424103117238cdb849bb8ad06"},{"role":"photo","URL":"bundle:\/\/1469517950-5547544966afad8238d287c6e9c39c1b-600x419.jpg","layout":"anchor-layout-right","anchor":{"targetAnchorPosition":"center","rangeStart":0,"rangeLength":1,"targetComponentIdentifier":"component-3756c931a0046e2e6891fc1a64e0aa9a"}},{"role":"body","text":"Over its entire solar flight mission, Solar Impluse 2 completed more than 500 flight hours, cruising at an average speed of between 28 and 56mph. It made stops in [Oman](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/oman), India, [Myanmar](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/myanmar-burma), China, Japan, the US, [Spain](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/spain), Italy, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.\n\nThe carbon-fibre plane is a single-seater aircraft, meaning its two [Swiss](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/switzerland) pilots \u2013 Piccard and Andre Borschberg \u2013 had to take turns flying solo for long days and nights. To calm their minds and manage fatigue during the long solo flights, Borschberg practised yoga and Piccard self-hypnosis.\n\n\u00a0\n\nIn a statement this week, Borschberg said it was no longer a question of whether it was possible to fly without fuel or polluting emissions.\u00a0\u201cBy flying around the world thanks to renewable energy and clean technologies, we have demonstrated that we can now make our world more energy efficient,\u201d he said.","format":"markdown","textStyle":"default-body","layout":"body-layout","identifier":"component-3756c931a0046e2e6891fc1a64e0aa9a"},{"role":"photo","URL":"bundle:\/\/1469518413-c24246ef9adfbe4371d1f77749acb3d6-600x428.jpg","layout":"anchor-layout-right","anchor":{"targetAnchorPosition":"center","rangeStart":0,"rangeLength":1,"targetComponentIdentifier":"component-dce9d461ca6434fbde8e9c3107661588"}},{"role":"body","text":"\u00a0\n\n\u00a0\n\n\u00a0\n\nIt took 70 hours for Piccard to cross the Atlantic Ocean, which was the first by a solar-powered plane.\u00a0Borschberg\u2019s flight over the Pacific Ocean at 118 hours \u2013 five days and five nights \u2013 shattered the record for the longest flight duration by an aircraft flying solo.\n\n\u00a0","format":"markdown","textStyle":"default-body","layout":"body-layout","identifier":"component-dce9d461ca6434fbde8e9c3107661588"},{"role":"photo","URL":"bundle:\/\/1469518515-544c5be002dcab883c2877455162865c-600x400.jpg","layout":"anchor-layout-right","anchor":{"targetAnchorPosition":"center","rangeStart":0,"rangeLength":1,"targetComponentIdentifier":"component-d3fcecd9b05c6dd535b1c17b9f832126"}},{"role":"body","text":"Neither pilot was able to stand in the cockpit while flying, but the seat reclined for stretching and its cushion could be removed for access to a toilet. Goggles worn over the pilot\u2019s eyes flashed lights to wake him up while armbands placed underneath their suits buzzed when the plane was not at flying level.\n\n\u00a0\n\nPiccard, a psychiatrist, is the son of undersea explorer Jacques Piccard and a grandson of balloonist Auguste Piccard. In 1999, he became the first person to circumnavigate the globe non-stop in a hot air balloon.\u00a0Borschberg, an engineer and graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is also an entrepreneur. He launched the Solar Impulse project in 2003 with Mr Piccard.\n\n\u00a0\n\nThe solar flight project is estimated to cost more than \u00a376 million. The UAE-based Masdar, the Abu Dhabi government\u2019s clean-energy company, was a main sponsor of the flight and there were more than 40 additional sponsors, including Omega, [Belgian](https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/belgium) chemical company Solvay, Swedish-Swiss automation corporation ABB, Swiss manufacturer Schindler, Google and Moet Hennessey.\n\nRead more: [http:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/news\/2016\/07\/26\/solar-flight-completes-first-round-world-journey\/#ixzz4FViAqObw](http:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/news\/2016\/07\/26\/solar-flight-completes-first-round-world-journey\/#ixzz4FViAqObw)","format":"markdown","textStyle":"default-body","layout":"body-layout-last","identifier":"component-d3fcecd9b05c6dd535b1c17b9f832126"}]}],"componentTextStyles":{"dropcapBodyStyle":{"textAlignment":"left","fontName":"Munged-XvgFJEsU9W","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":16,"textColor":"#2c3643","linkStyle":{"textColor":"#428bca"},"paragraphSpacingBefore":10,"paragraphSpacingAfter":10,"dropCapStyle":{"numberOfLines":4,"numberOfCharacters":1,"padding":5,"fontName":"Munged-EFpzuYCS36","textColor":"#000000"}},"default-body":{"textAlignment":"left","fontName":"Munged-XvgFJEsU9W","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":20,"textColor":"#2c3643","linkStyle":{"textColor":"#428bca"},"paragraphSpacingBefore":10,"paragraphSpacingAfter":10},"default-byline":{"textAlignment":"center","fontName":"Munged-fC7HqUX2aV","fontSize":13,"textColor":"#2c3643"},"default-title":{"fontName":"Munged-EFpzuYCS36","fontSize":40,"lineHeight":44,"textColor":"#000","textAlignment":"center"},"default-pullquote":{"fontName":"Munged-FJssujHZdn","fontSize":42,"textColor":"#2C3641","textTransform":"uppercase","lineHeight":48,"textAlignment":"center"},"author-byline":{"fontName":"Munged-DPMWPmQdSq","fontSize":17,"textColor":"#ffffff","textAlignment":"center","lineHeight":18,"textTransform":"uppercase"},"author-org-byline":{"fontName":"Munged-fC7HqUX2aV","fontSize":16,"textColor":"#ffffff","textAlignment":"center"},"lp-byline":{"fontName":"Munged-fC7HqUX2aV","fontSize":18,"textColor":"#b6c3ca","lineHeight":22,"textAlignment":"center"},"header-title":{"fontName":"Munged-DPMWPmQdSq","fontSize":46,"lineHeight":49,"textColor":"#fff","textAlignment":"center","textTransform":"capitalize","columnStart":1,"columnSpan":13,"margin":{"top":10,"bottom":50,"left":4,"right":4}}},"componentLayouts":{"body-layout":{"columnStart":1,"columnSpan":12,"margin":{"top":22,"bottom":30}},"body-layout-last":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":5,"margin":{"top":12,"bottom":30}},"anchored-image":{"margin":{"top":1,"bottom":0},"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":16},"anchor-layout-right":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15},"headerPhotoLayout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":16,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"minimumHeight":"40vh","margin":{"top":0,"bottom":0}},"headerBelowTextPhotoLayout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"margin":{"top":30,"bottom":0}},"byline-layout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15,"margin":{"top":5,"bottom":8},"caption-layout":{"margin":{"top":2,"bottom":2}},"imageContainerLayout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":6,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"margin":{"top":8,"bottom":8}},"caption-style":{"fontName":"Munged-DPMWPmQdSq","fontSize":10,"textColor":"#2c3643","textAlignment":"center","margin":{"top":4,"bottom":8}}},"title-layout":{"margin":{"top":5,"bottom":6},"columnSpan":15},"author-avatar":{"columnStart":5,"columnSpan":2,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"margin":{"top":0,"bottom":30}},"heading-layout":{"columnStart":1,"columnSpan":12,"textAlignment":"left","margin":{"top":20,"bottom":4}},"full-width-image":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":16,"margin":{"top":1,"bottom":1}},"quote-layout":{"margin":{"top":15,"bottom":15}},"anchor-layout-left":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15},"headerContainerLayout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":16,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"minimumHeight":"40vh","margin":{"top":0,"bottom":0}},"imageContainerLayout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":6,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"margin":{"top":8,"bottom":8}},"headerTitleLayout":{"columnStart":1,"columnSpan":15,"ignoreDocumentMargin":true,"margin":{"top":50,"bottom":15}},"AuthorLayout":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15,"margin":{"top":0,"bottom":2}},"AuthorLayoutOrg":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":15,"margin":{"top":0,"bottom":20}}},"metadata":{"excerpt":"The world\u2019s first round-the-world flight to be powered solely by the sun\u2019s energy has made history, landing in Abu Dhabi, where it first took off on an epic 25,000-mile journey that began more than a year ago.   Since its March 2015 take-off, the Swiss-engineered Solar Impulse 2 has made 16 stops across the world...","thumbnailURL":"bundle:\/\/13767247_1195995787098261_3780676576219278388_o-e1469526178247.jpg","dateCreated":"2016-07-26T10:46:10+00:00","dateModified":"2016-07-26T10:46:10+00:00","datePublished":"2016-07-26T10:46:10+00:00","canonicalURL":"http:\/\/www-preview.lonelyplanet.com\/news\/2016\/07\/26\/solar-flight-completes-first-round-world-journey-abu-dhabi\/","generatorIdentifier":"publish-to-apple-news","generatorName":"Publish to Apple 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