A Dramatic Finish For Solar Impulse, The Solar-Powered Plane That Flew Across The U.S.
Solar Impulse Pilots After Landing Solar Impulse The craft touched down in New York over the weekend after zipping across the States, but not without some technical difficulties. Since May, the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse has been on a cross-country trip across the U.S., soaring from San Francisco to the Southwest, through St. Louis, D.C., and now, finally, to New York. But its last leg was more harrowing than celebratory. The Swiss-made craft took off on an early morning flight out of Washington en route to New York on Saturday, in what was supposed to be something of a victory lap, according to the team. But by Saturday afternoon, the pilots reported balance problems with the wings, and an 8-foot hole was discovered in fabric covering Solar Impulse. The team considered emergency options, like bailing over the Atlantic, but ultimately opted to land the plane three hours ahead of...