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Solar Impulse 2 landed at 4 a.m. on Tuesday at Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen Airport, after flying around the world without using a single drop of fuel.
The plane finally completed its circumnavigation of the globe using only solar energy after what proved to be the one of the journey's most difficult legs, as pilot Bertrand Piccard had to battle turbulence throughout the flight, arriving back in Abu Dhabi, where Solar Impulse started in March last year, after taking off from Cairo on Sunday and flying for about 48 hours.
With co-pilot Andre Borschberg, Piccard has flown more than 40,000 kilometres and for more than 500 hours during the 16 legs of the Masdar-sponsored adventure. Along the way, the Swiss duo broke eight records, and the landing in Abu Dhabi was put in the books as the ninth, being the completion of the first round-the-world flight using zero fossil fuels and only the power of the sun.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Piccard said, "This was a life-long journey for me. This was a moment that I dreamt about and that I wanted to share with everyone in a message that the future is clean."
On Monday, the Masdar Chief Executive spoke to Mr. Piccard, telling him that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, "has been following up on all steps taken since the departure of Solar Impulse from Abu Dhabi, and he sends you his best regards and welcomes you back to Abu Dhabi".
According to today's edition of The National, the return flight to Abu Dhabi proved to be one of the most difficult legs of the journey. Aside from not sleeping, Mr. Piccard had to stabilise the plane at less-than-ideal situations throughout the flight. To calm his nerves, the team held a small concert with violinist Zhang Zhang performing live in the mission control room in Monaco, broadcasting live to the pilot.
However, the flight was more emotional than it was difficult, Piccard said. He addressed the team directly to expressed his gratitude. "I thank you so much for having trusted me in something that was completely crazy," he said. "You are always with me in the cockpit. You chose adventure, you chose exploration, you chose to do something amazing, and I thank you so much. In the beginning, I did not know if it was a good idea. I think it became a great idea, thanks to you, and thanks for all the people who came with me."
Piccard spent time reflecting on the significance of the solar aircraft, saying, "I can look at the four motors, I can see them energised on nothing but the sun," he said just before his last momentous landing. "I look at it and it is like science fiction, it is like magic, but this is the reality and the future."
After landing, Mr. Piccard made his rounds hugging the members of his team at the airport as the Solar Impulse was towed into the makeshift hangar for the last time.
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