Solar Impulse 2 covered a distance of 1,570 kilometres on this leg of the trip, writes Solar Impulse in a press release. Betrand Piccard, founder of the project and honorary president of the business association swisscleantech, reached a maximum altitude of 6,706 metres and an average speed of 86.4 kilometres per hour.
The flight to Tulsa marks the eleventh leg of Solar Impulse’s round-the-world flight. Two more stops are planned in the US, including New York. André Borschberg will pilot the next leg “as soon as possible, weather permitting”.
The round-the-world journey seeks to demonstrate what modern technologies based on renewable energy are capable of accomplishing. Solar Impulse 2 is powered by 17,248 solar cells, which store energy in four batteries, allowing the airplane to fly at night. The solar energy powers the four electric motors and propeller.
The aircraft, which is manufactured out of carbon fibre, has a wingspan of 72 metres, wider than a Boeing 747. It weighs 2,300 kilograms.