Solar plane lands in Myanmar

Solar Impulse 2 is in Mandalay, Myanmar, the closest the solar-powered aircraft is going to get to Thailand. Next stop: Chongqing, China.

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Solar Impulse 2 is in Mandalay, Myanmar after flying all the way from the United Arab Emirates in four flights. This is the closest it is going to get to Thailand. The solar-powered aircraft is scheduled to leave for Chongqing, China on Sunday, a trip of about 750 nautical miles (1400 kilometres).

Solar plane lands in Myanmar on epic round-the-world journey

Swiss pilots Andre Borschberg (L) and Bertrand Piccard (R) wave after the Solar Impulse 2, the world's only solar-powered aircraft, landed at Mandalay international airport on March 19, 2015. Solar Impulse 2 took off from the Indian holy city of Varanasi for Myanmar, its fourth flight after embarking on a landmark journey to circumnavigate the globe powered solely by the sun. AFP PHOTO / YE AUNG THU

Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard speaks to the press after landing with Solar Impulse 2. AFP PHOTO / YE AUNG THU

Yangon, AFP –  Solar Impulse 2 landed in Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay Thursday after completing the fourth leg of its landmark circumnavigation of the globe powered solely by the sun – and was met by an elephant.

The single-seater aircraft landed at 7:51 pm local time after a 13-hour journey from the Indian holy city Varanasi.

Pictures posted on social media showed the plane being met by two men dressed as a brightly coloured elephant and a huge crowd of local dancers.

Pilot Bertrand Piccard flew the fourth leg of the 12-part journey, taking over from fellow Swiss aviator Andre Borschberg.

The leg from Varanasi was expected to take around 20 hours but strong tail winds pushed the plane up to record-breaking speeds.

"This flight broke a record in terms of speed going up to 117 knots pushed by tail winds," an update by the team on YouTube said.

People stand near the Solar Impulse 2, the world's only solar-powered aircraft, at Mandalay international airport. AFP PHOTO / YE AUNG THU

The plane had stopped overnight in Varanasi after leaving Ahmedabad in Gujarat state where the plane became entangled in India's notorious bureaucracy, delaying its departure.

The team behind Solar Impulse 2, which has more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings, hopes to promote green energy with the circumnavigation attempt.

Ridiculed by the aviation industry when it was first unveiled, the venture has since been hailed around the world, including by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

Muscat was the first of the 12 planned stops on the plane's maiden journey around the world from Abu Dhabi, with a total flight time of around 25 days spread over five months.

You can see over previous coverage here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/492286/solar-powered-plane-takes-off-in-first-round-the-world-attempt

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