Gallery: The Surprising Zen of a 5-Day Flight Over the Pacific
Solar Impusle01Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii
Nearly five days after taking off from Japan, *Solar Impulse 2* landed in Hawaii.
Solar Impusle02Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii
Pilot André Borschberg covered 4,481 miles in 117 hours and 52 minutes of flight.
Solar Impusle03Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii
The Pacific crossing was the toughest leg of the plane's 22,000-mile journey around the world.
Solar Impusle04Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii
“I was counting the hours at the end, not because I was eager to land,” Borschberg says, but “because it was the only hours left for me to enjoy my time in this cockpit.”
Solar Impusle05Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii
Now that Solar Impulse 2 is on the ground in Hawaii, the crew will do a full round of maintenance, checking all the electric and avionics systems before it’s time to finish crossing the Pacific.
Solar Impusle06Solar Impulse 2 arriving in Hawaii
In between the occasion bout of tears—this flight is the emotional culmination of a 12-year project—Borschberg had a wonderful time.
Solar Impusle07Solar Impulse 2 arriving in Hawaii
The first two nights were rough, Borschberg says, but as the flight went on, he relaxed, got comfortable.
Solar Impusle08Solar Impulse 2 arriving in Hawaii
Flying over a blue mass with no landmarks below, relaxing and letting the autopilot work while he slept, preparing his meals, even using the toilet, became a “very zen experience.”
