GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – André Borschberg continues to fly to Hawaii while the rest of us wonder how anyone can stay awake enough to fly a plane for five days straight. But this much is clear: he has been given a boost by knowing that he is setting new world records.
Solar Impulse, the plane he is flying, now holds the record for the longest non-stop solo flight without refueling (duration), as well as “all distance and duration world records for solar aviation (80 hour and 5663 km),” says the plane’s communications team. “By remaining airborne three consecutive days and nights, producing its own power with solar energy, Solar Impulse 2 has proven that Bertrand Piccard’s vision of reaching unlimited endurance without fuel was not a crazy dream.
His flight between Nagoya, Japan and Hawaii, USA has now overtaken American Steve Fossett’s flight on board Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer in 2006. Fossett flew 76 hours non-stop to circumnavigate the globe.
“Solar Impulse 2 has so far accomplished 73 % of its flight to Hawaii and is intended to fly approximately 120 hours in total before landing in Honolulu,” the group said Thursday in a press release.