Solar-powered plane completes first leg of round-the-world flight

Bryony Jones
By Bryony Jones, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 1:00 PM EDT, Wed March 11, 2015
Solar Impulse 2, seen above the Pyramids of Giza on its approach to Cairo, Egypt.
Solar Impulse 2, seen above the Pyramids of Giza on its approach to Cairo, Egypt.
Solar Impulse 2
Solar Impulse 2 aircraft lands at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016, after a 71-hour journey from New York powered only by sunlight.
Solar Impulse 2 aircraft lands at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016, after a 71-hour journey from New York powered only by sunlight.
CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Spanish Air Force's Patrulla Aguila formation team performs past the sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft arriving few moments before landing at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016.
The Spanish Air Force's Patrulla Aguila formation team performs past the sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft arriving few moments before landing at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016.
CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse 2 sits on the runway at JFK international airport prior to departing to cross the Atlantic on June 20, 2016.
Solar Impulse 2 sits on the runway at JFK international airport prior to departing to cross the Atlantic on June 20, 2016.
Solar Impulse/Revillard/Rezo.ch
Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a fly-by of the San Francisco Bay after flying for two and half days from Hawaii.
Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a fly-by of the San Francisco Bay after flying for two and half days from Hawaii.
Solar Impulse
Solar Impulse 2 departs Hawaii for the two-and-a-half day flight to California, the 9th leg of its round-the-world trip.
Solar Impulse 2 departs Hawaii for the two-and-a-half day flight to California, the 9th leg of its round-the-world trip.
JEAN REVILLARD/REZO
Pilot Bertrand Piccard prepares to take off from Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii on April 21st 2016, en route to California. The round-the-world solar flight will take 500 flight hours and cover 35,000 km.
Pilot Bertrand Piccard prepares to take off from Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii on April 21st 2016, en route to California. The round-the-world solar flight will take 500 flight hours and cover 35,000 km.
JEAN REVILLARD/REZO
The Solar Impulse 2 is seen at the Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei, Hawaii, on Friday, July 3. The solar-powered plane, alternately piloted by Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, is attempting to fly around the world without fuel.
The Solar Impulse 2 is seen at the Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei, Hawaii, on Friday, July 3. The solar-powered plane, alternately piloted by Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, is attempting to fly around the world without fuel.
Marco Garcia/AP
Borschberg approaches Honolulu Airport on July 3 after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan.
Borschberg approaches Honolulu Airport on July 3 after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan.
Jean Revillard/Solar Impulse 2/AP
Solar Impulse is seen at sunrise on Monday, June 29, shortly after taking off from the international airport in Nagoya, Japan. The aircraft's Japan-to-Hawaii trip was the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.
Solar Impulse is seen at sunrise on Monday, June 29, shortly after taking off from the international airport in Nagoya, Japan. The aircraft's Japan-to-Hawaii trip was the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.
SOLAR IMPULSE/AFP/Getty Images
The solar-powered plane prepares to take off from Nagoya on June 29.
The solar-powered plane prepares to take off from Nagoya on June 29.
Jean Revillard/SI2/Global Newsroom/Getty Images
A mobile hangar is opened on Tuesday, June 23, as the plane is prepared for a possible takeoff. The plane had been waiting in Japan for three weeks because of bad weather.
A mobile hangar is opened on Tuesday, June 23, as the plane is prepared for a possible takeoff. The plane had been waiting in Japan for three weeks because of bad weather.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
The mobile hangar at the Nagoya airport, as seen on Wednesday, June 3.
The mobile hangar at the Nagoya airport, as seen on Wednesday, June 3.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
The Solar Impulse 2 touches down in Nagoya on Monday, June 1. The plane made an unscheduled stop after mission controllers decided the weather was not right for the plane to cross the Pacific Ocean.
The Solar Impulse 2 touches down in Nagoya on Monday, June 1. The plane made an unscheduled stop after mission controllers decided the weather was not right for the plane to cross the Pacific Ocean.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
People take pictures as the plane takes off from Nanjing, China, on Sunday, May 31.
People take pictures as the plane takes off from Nanjing, China, on Sunday, May 31.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Piccard sits in the cockpit right after landing in Chongqing, China, on Sunday, March 31. He had just completed the fifth leg of the global trip.
Piccard sits in the cockpit right after landing in Chongqing, China, on Sunday, March 31. He had just completed the fifth leg of the global trip.
Solarimpulse
Borschberg and Piccard are welcomed by a crowd of reporters after landing in Chongqing.
Borschberg and Piccard are welcomed by a crowd of reporters after landing in Chongqing.
Solarimpulse
The Solar Impulse 2 is rolled out of its inflatable mobile hangar before leaving Myanmar for Chongqing on Monday, March 30.
The Solar Impulse 2 is rolled out of its inflatable mobile hangar before leaving Myanmar for Chongqing on Monday, March 30.
Solarimpulse
The plane is prepared on a tarmac in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday, March 18.
The plane is prepared on a tarmac in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday, March 18.
Solarimpulse
The Solar Impulse 2 flies over Muscat, Oman, after taking off on Tuesday, March 10.
The Solar Impulse 2 flies over Muscat, Oman, after taking off on Tuesday, March 10.
Solarimpulse
The plane takes off from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, March 9. Its flight to Oman was the first leg of its round-the-world flight.
The plane takes off from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, March 9. Its flight to Oman was the first leg of its round-the-world flight.
Jean Revillard/Getty Images
The plane is the brainchild of Swiss pilots Piccard, right, and Borschberg.
The plane is the brainchild of Swiss pilots Piccard, right, and Borschberg.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
The top surface of the Solar Impulse 2's wings is covered with 17,000 solar cells that supply four electric motors with renewable energy. Its batteries can store enough solar daytime energy to keep the plane moving throughout the night.
The top surface of the Solar Impulse 2's wings is covered with 17,000 solar cells that supply four electric motors with renewable energy. Its batteries can store enough solar daytime energy to keep the plane moving throughout the night.
© Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch
The plane's wings stretch for a massive 72 meters (236 feet).
The plane's wings stretch for a massive 72 meters (236 feet).
© Solar Impulse
The plane's cockpit has been designed to ensure that a pilot can live there for a week.
The plane's cockpit has been designed to ensure that a pilot can live there for a week.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse 2 is the upgraded version of a prototype, pictured here, that made history in 2010 by becoming the first solar aircraft capable of flying overnight.
Solar Impulse 2 is the upgraded version of a prototype, pictured here, that made history in 2010 by becoming the first solar aircraft capable of flying overnight.
DOMINIC FAVRE/AFP/Getty Images/file
Solar Impulse 1, pictured here over Lake Geneva, broke several records, including the world's first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight in 2012.
Solar Impulse 1, pictured here over Lake Geneva, broke several records, including the world's first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight in 2012.
JEAN REVILLARD/AFP/Getty Images/file
Borschberg is an engineer who studied management science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The aviation enthusiast has been involved in several startups and technology projects over the years.
Borschberg is an engineer who studied management science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The aviation enthusiast has been involved in several startups and technology projects over the years.
© Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch
Piccard, who is also a doctor and a psychiatrist, is the first man to fly around the world non-stop in a balloon. He hails from a family of scientists and explorers.
Piccard, who is also a doctor and a psychiatrist, is the first man to fly around the world non-stop in a balloon. He hails from a family of scientists and explorers.
© Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch
Piccard's grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was a physics professor who helped pave the way for high-altitude navigation by inventing the pressurized cabin. He was also the first person to reach the stratosphere in a balloon.
Piccard's grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was a physics professor who helped pave the way for high-altitude navigation by inventing the pressurized cabin. He was also the first person to reach the stratosphere in a balloon.
© Piccard Family
Piccard's father, Jacques, was the first man to dive to the bottom of the Marianas Trench -- the deepest point of the world's oceans.
Piccard's father, Jacques, was the first man to dive to the bottom of the Marianas Trench -- the deepest point of the world's oceans.
© Piccard Family
Solar Impulse 2's round-the-world journey

Story highlights

Solar Impulse completes first leg of its round-the-world flight, from Abu Dhabi to Oman

Pilot Andre Borschberg was at the controls; Bertrand Piccard will tackle the second journey

After pit stop in Muscat, Oman, the solar-powered plane will travel on to India, Myanmar and China

CNN  — 

Solar Impulse 2 has landed safely in Oman on the first leg of its quest to be the first plane to fly around the world fueled only by the sun’s rays.

The solar-powered plane took off from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates early on Monday with pilot Andre Borschberg at the controls for the 400-kilometer (250 mile) flight.

The journey was expected to take about 12 hours, but high winds of up to 11 knots delayed its landing, forcing Borschberg to fly in a holding pattern above Muscat until they dropped to safe levels.

Once safely on the ground, Borschberg said he was “extremely happy” and “looking forward to the rest of [the] adventure.”

Solar Impulse 2’s visit to Oman is a short pit-stop on its marathon 35,000-kilometer, five month journey across the globe, via India, Myanmar, China and the U.S.

The plane is expected to be on the ground for just eight hours before it takes off again – this time with pilot Bertrand Piccard in charge – bound for Ahmedabad in India.

The potentially historic flight had originally been due to take off on March 1 but its departure was postponed because of concerns about the weather after strong dust storms created hazy conditions.

Solar Impulse's route across the globe
Solar Impulse's route across the globe

“We have had a lot of sandstorms in Abu Dhabi, and also a lot of wind, sea breezes, higher than the limit,” said the team’s meteorologist Luc Truellemans in an interview posted on Twitter and YouTube.

By Monday morning, the skies had cleared sufficiently for takeoff, though there was a slight delay while technical checks were carried out, as pilo