Solar Impulse plane touches down in China

The fuel-free aeroplane Solar Impulse has landed in Chongqing, China, completing the 5th leg of its round-the-world flight.

Controlled by Bertrand Piccard, the plane had left Mandalay in Myanmar (Burma) around 20 hours ago, and touched down in China just after 17:30 GMT, the BBC reported.

Though the aim was to make a short stop in Chongqing before taking off for Nanjing, the weather conditions have delayed the plans.

Piccard, who's sharing the flying duties in the single-seater plane with his business partner, Andre Borschberg, had to cover a distance of 1,375km, and went through some difficult winds as he approached Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.

 

The project's goal is to complete the circumnavigation of the globe in a total of 12 legs, with a return to the Emirate in a few months' time.

Solar Impulse has already set two world records for manned solar-powered flight, as solar-powered plane has ever flown around the world.