The Solar Impulse HB-SIA landed safely in Phoenix at 00:30 am MST today on Runway 08.

Solar Impulse pilot Bertrand Piccard flew the aircraft on the first leg from San Francisco (CA) to Phoenix (AZ) of its trip for 650 nautical miles at an average altitude of 10,000 feet and a ground speed of 40.6 miles per hour.

For the next leg, an 865-mile trip from Phoenix to Dallas/Forth Worth, fellow pilot and Solar Impulse CEO André Borschberg will take the controls. The pair will be alternating like this for the remaining four parts of the journey, allowing the off-duty pilot the physical and mental rest needed following his prolonged stretches of time at the helm.

 

The Solar Impulse’s full schedule is listed below — it could be changed due to weather, operational issues or other unforeseen events.

• May 3rd 2013: First leg, San Francisco/Moffett Airfield – Phoenix/Sky Harbor
• Mid May 2013: Second leg, Phoenix/Sky Harbor – Dallas/Fort Worth
• End May – Early June 2013: Third leg, Dallas/Fort Worth – St. Louis/Lambert Airport
• Mid June 2013: Fourth leg, St. Louis/Lambert Airport – Washington DC/Dulles
• Early July 2013: Fifth and last leg, Washington DC/Dulles – New York/JFK

Source and photo: Solar Impulse