Post by Weatherman on May 5, 2013 10:52:26 GMT -5
Solar plane lands in Ariz., 1st leg of major trip
Source: AP-Excite
By BOB SEAVEY and SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
PHOENIX (AP) - Alone in the single-seat cockpit and high above the American Southwest, pilot Bertrand Piccard could hear only his plane's gear box and the quiet whine of four electric motors. No noisy jet engines.
He's flying Solar Impulse, considered the world's most advanced sun-powered plane.
Piccard piloted the craft for 20 hours, first cruising along the California coast after taking off from Moffett Field in Mountain View near San Francisco just after dawn Friday. He passed over Edwards Air Force Base, where other aviation milestones have been made, and then touched down early Saturday morning at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
He landed having used only three-quarters of the plane's battery power.
FULL story at link.
Read more: apnews.excite.com/article/20130504/DA62O5AG0.html
Source: AP-Excite
By BOB SEAVEY and SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
PHOENIX (AP) - Alone in the single-seat cockpit and high above the American Southwest, pilot Bertrand Piccard could hear only his plane's gear box and the quiet whine of four electric motors. No noisy jet engines.
He's flying Solar Impulse, considered the world's most advanced sun-powered plane.
Piccard piloted the craft for 20 hours, first cruising along the California coast after taking off from Moffett Field in Mountain View near San Francisco just after dawn Friday. He passed over Edwards Air Force Base, where other aviation milestones have been made, and then touched down early Saturday morning at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
He landed having used only three-quarters of the plane's battery power.
FULL story at link.
Read more: apnews.excite.com/article/20130504/DA62O5AG0.html