Solar-powered plane lands in India on 2nd leg of world trip

AHMADABAD, India — A Swiss-made solar powered aircraft landed in western India on Tuesday night, completing the second leg — and its first sea crossing — of its historic round-theworld trip.

The Solar Impulse 2 touched down at Ahmadabad airport in Gujarat state about 16 hours after it took off from Muscat, Oman, for the 910-mile flight without a drop of fuel.

The world’s first aircraft powered by solar energy was to remain in Ahmadabad for two days before flying to the holy city of Varanasi in northern India on Saturday.

The Swiss pilots, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Boschberg, are taking turns at the controls of the aircraft during their 21,700-mile journey.

The aircraft’s wings are covered by more than 17,000 solar cells that recharge the plane’s batteries. It flies ideally at around 28 mph.