A plane powered only by the sun mad a successful three-day flight over the Pacific Ocean.
Solar Impulse 2, which runs on batteries charged by light-powered cells, made the journey from Hawaii to Palo Alto, California, in 62 hours ending Saturday night.
The plane, which weighs little more than an SUV, has a huge wingspan and a tiny cockpit with only room enough for the pilot.
It has some 17,000 solar cells, which take in energy during the day and let it keep flying at night. The ideal flying speed is 28mph.
Betrand Piccard, who flew the journey in ideal conditions, said he felt “completely confident” in the technology while making the trip.
The flight is yet more proof of concept for solar aircraft.
Solar Impulse planes have flown long journeys before, but were taking a risk with the Pacific flight because there was nowhere to land if things went wrong.
Their next major milestone will be a round-the-world flight.
