Solar-powered ‘Solar Impulse’ plane lands in India to complete first sea leg

Ahmedabad: Solar Impulse 2 landed in India late on Tuesday, completing the first major sea leg of its epic bid to become the first solar-powered plane to fly around the world.

The aircraft touched down in Gujarat at 11:25 pm local time (1755 GMT) to finish its second leg in a little less than 16 hours after taking off from the Omani capital Muscat.

Members in the control room applauded as Pilot Bertrand Piccard, who was at the controls on the 1,465 kilometre (910 mile) journey over the Arabian Sea, landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

"Congratulations to @bertrandpiccard from Mission Control... Landing 11.25pm local time," the Solar Impulse team posted on Twitter.

The Solar Impulse will be in Ahmedabad for four days during which "several events are planned on the theme of renewable energy and sustainable development", according to the Swiss embassy.

^{In this photo released by Solar Impulse "Solar Impulse 2", a solar-powered airplane piloted by Bertrant Piccard, left, from Switzerland lands in Ahmedabad}

The aircraft will embark on its fourth leg to Myanmar on March 16 after making a short stop at the city of Varanasi.

The sea legs pose the greatest challenge for the Solar Impulse team as any loss of power over the water would leave the pilot no alternative but to bail out and await rescue by boat.

Much bigger crossings lie ahead as Piccard and fellow Swiss aviator Andre Borschberg, who alternate at the controls of the single-seat aircraft, traverse the great oceans.

The longest single leg will see one of them fly solo non-stop for five days and nights across the Pacific from Nanjing, China to Hawaii, a distance of 8,500 kilometres (5,270 miles).

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

Monday's maiden leg took Borschberg 13 hours and two minutes. He spoke of an "emotional" trip, telling reporters he cruised at 6,000 metres (almost 20,000 feet) because the trip was "short".

Piccard was flying even higher as he entered Pakistani airspace on Tuesday, at 8,230 metres (27,000 feet), his support team said.