{"id":10066,"date":"2015-06-29T09:03:44","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T16:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=10066"},"modified":"2015-06-29T09:08:57","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T16:08:57","slug":"solar-impulse-pulls-fast-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/solar-impulse-pulls-fast-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar Impulse Pulls a Fast One"},"content":{"rendered":"

Confusion surrounded the takeoff of Solar Impulse 2 from Nagoya, Japan<\/a> in Sunday\u2019s early hours, with some news reports showing that the airplane had departed, but the project\u2019s web site silent.\u00a0 That was cleared up\u00a0over nine hours into the flight, with revelations that Andre\u2019 Borschberg and the control center in Monaco had spent hours resolving issues with the aircraft\u2019s systems and determining that the flight would continue.\u00a0 They did this without the press of the press adding to the tension.<\/p>\n

\"Mrs.<\/a>

Mrs. Borschberg holds an appropriate flag with Japan’s rising sun sending her husband toward the dawn. \u00a0Photo: Solar Impulse | Revilard<\/p><\/div>\n

The team made crucial decisions regarding safety and system reliability and made the big choice to continue on the five day, five night voyage.\u00a0 Weather conditions over the 8,340 kilometer (5,170 mile) course remain promising and motors, batteries and all systems seem to be operating flawlessly.\u00a0 With sunrise within four hours of this writing, batteries should be able to sustain flight until Borschberg and the giant airplane meet the sun well out over the Pacific.<\/p>\n

\"Joe<\/a>

Joe the Cartoon Shark follows the flight on Solar Impulse’s excellent on-line tracking<\/p><\/div>\n

We\u2019ll continue with best wishes for the safety of the epic flight.\u00a0 With a current ground speed of 10 knots (11.5 mph), the airplane could probably use a providential tailwind to expedite the passage.<\/p>\n