In its attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea, the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) left Seville Airport in Spain at 6:20 a.m. local time on Monday. The purely solar-powered aircraft is expected to land at Cairo International Airport, Egypt two days later (July 13) at 9:00 am local time on the second-to-last leg of the attempt to achieve the first solar-powered flight around the world. It also marks the last flight of CEO André Borschberg.
Borschberg said, “This flight across Europe will touch a large number of countries, very diverse in terms of culture, climate and geography. But in addition to all being on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, they have a common denominator: the potential benefit of using renewable energies and clean technology.”
On this journey, the Si2 will fly in the airspace of Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Malta, Greece and Egypt. Once it lands in Cairo, the aircraft will be prepared for the final leg of its attempt to fly around the world without fuel. The final destination is Abu Dhabi in the United Emirates, where the journey began in March 2015.