Last Monday, pilot André Borschberg took off from Nagoya, Japan, and after 120 hours of flight managed to land today in Hawaii on the first and largest flight made with the solar aircraft Solar Impulse.
Breaking the previous record of 76 flight hours held by American Steve Fosset since 2006, André showed the world what is truly possible with today's solar technology.
André Borschberg had to land at Kalaeloa Airport in Hawaii after four days and twenty-one minutes of flight. He flew 8,221 kilometers and used about 31% of his batteries.
The pilot spent 120 hours of continuous flight, strapped to a seat that serves as a toilet, a bed, and also an exercise machine with little or no sleep. However, Borschberg had been trained in meditation and hypnosis to help him stay focused on the most demanding leg of his life.
It is truly a pioneering feat for solar-powered aircraft.
The aircraft finally landed safely at Kalaeloa Airport at 7:00 a.m. (Athens time). André Borschberg is unharmed and intact, while Prince Albert of Monaco was present at the landing to congratulate on the new record.
You can follow the landing and the progress of the flight on the official Solar Impulse.
