First Leg From San Francisco To Phoenix Launched Friday Morning

The Solar Impulse solar-powered airplane has begun its trek across the United States, leaving San Francisco early Friday morning (PDT) en route to its first stop in Phoenix, AZ.

NBC News reports that Bertrand Piccard was at the controls of the airplane as it departed Moffett Field (KNUQ) at 0612 PDT Friday and turned south towards Arizona. The Solar Impulse website predicted that the airplane would arrive in Phoenix sometime around midnight Friday.

The trip will span the U.S. across the southern tier of states until it reaches Texas, at which point it will turn northeast towards St. Louis, MO, and traverse the Midwest to Washington, DC. From there, it will turn north, eventually ending the odyssey in New York City.

The Solar Impulse team says it plans to hold open house events in every city in which the airplane lands to give people a chance to see the aircraft up close. Such an event held April 20th at Moffett Airfield quickly sold out, according to the Solar Impulse website. The trans-U.S. fight was originally not planned, but became an opportunity for the team to test a new wing spar.

The project’s ultimate goal is to fly around the world. That journey is scheduled for 2015 and will be attempted by a second generation aircraft, the HB-SIB, which is currently under construction.

(Images provided by Solar Impulse)

FMI: www.solarimpulse.com