The public will be able to visit Solar Impulse 2 Opens in a new tab, the plane attempting to travel around the world powered only by the sun, on April 2.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation said Tuesday the public can visit the plane from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hangar 111 at Kalaeloa Airport on Midway Street in Kapolei. The public will be able to view the aircraft and meet the crew. Parking is available along Midway Opens in a new tab Street. The DOT is urging those interested in attending to register online Opens in a new tab at 808ne.ws/21GpFuw.
Solar Impulse 2 has been sitting in Hawaii since landing in July, when pilot Andre Borschberg arrived Opens in a new tab after five days and nights in the air, marking the longest solar flight both by time and distance.
Borschberg landed Solar Impulse 2 at Kalaeloa Airport after flying for 117 hours and 52 minutes from Nagoya, Japan. The plane was grounded after the record-breaking flight due to the batteries overheating. The sun is the only source of energy for the carbon-fiber aircraft. Solar Impulse 2’s 236-foot wingspan was built using more than 17,000 solar cells, four electric motors and lithium batteries replacing the need for fuel.
The University of Hawaii, with the support of the DOT, has hosted the airplane in the hangar at Kalaeloa Airport since the historical landing.
The DOT said the date of the viewing event could change to April 3, depending on weather conditions.
Students, staff and faculty from UH and Honolulu Community College will be able to visit Kalaeloa Airport to learn more about the plane for a private event Saturday.
The Solar Impulse crew has been prepping for the plane leaving Hawaii, conducting multiple maintenance and training flights.
Earlier this month Solar Impulse 2 co-founder Bertrand Piccard piloted three training flights. Piccard will pilot the plane on the next leg of its round-the-world adventure.
The earliest possible date for Solar Impulse to depart for the mainland is April 15.
Hawaii was the first of four U.S. destinations for the plane. Since leaving Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in March, the plane has traveled to Muscat, Oman; Ahmedabad and Varanasi, India; Mandalay, Myanmar; Chongqing and Nanjing, China; and Nagoya.
