Gallery: Here's How You Fly a Massive, Delicate Solar Plane Across the Country
01Solar Impulse Across America First leg from Moffett Airfield to Phoenix Sky Harbour airport
HB-SIA, with Bertrand Piccard at the controls, flies somewhere over California enroute to Phoenix during the first leg of Solar Impulse's transcontinental flight. *Photo: Fred Merz / Solar Imuplse*
Jean Revillard/Rezo.ch/Solarimpulse/Polaris02Test flight Pilot equipement
Solar Impulse pilots and co-founders Bertrand Piccard (left) and Andre Borschberg (right), with HB-SIA. *Photo: Solar Imuplse*
Jean Revillard/Rezo03HBSIAcockpit
Several screens convey a wealth of info to the pilot. The screen on the far right can fold down over the pilot's right shoulder and displays information via satellite including weather and email. On the right side of the panel is a screen that displays information about the airplane's energy level. On the left side of the panel is the radio and GPS. At the top and center are the flying instruments, including the two banks of five vertical lights on each side of the main display indicating single degrees of wing bank. The crank on the lower right is to raise and lower the main gear, 80 revolutions each way. *Photo: Solar Imuplse*
Solar Impulse04Solar Impulse Across America First leg from Moffett Airfield to Phoenix Sky Harbour airport
Bertand Piccard's view from the cockpit as he flies over California on Friday, enroute to Phoenix. *Photo: Solar Imuplse*
Solar Impulse05Solar Impulse Across America First leg from Moffett Airfield to Phoenix Sky Harbour airport
Betrand Piccard uses some reflective foil to shield himself from the southern California sun during his flight to Phoenix. *Photo: Solar Imuplse*
Fred Merz / Rezo.ch06Solar Impulse Across America First leg from Moffett Airfield to Phoenix Sky Harbour airport
Bertrand Piccard makes a picture-perfect landing in Phoenix after 18 hours aloft. *Photo: Solar Impulse*
