Abu Dhabi to New York without a drop of fuel

On touching down at John F. Kennedy airport in New York City, pilots of Solar Impulse 2 were greeted by Dr Nawal Al Hosany.

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2), the record-shattering solar-powered plane, has touched down in New York City, completing the latest leg of its quest to circumnavigate the world without a drop of fuel.
A representative from Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company Masdar, Solar Impulse's host partner, attended the arrival of the aircraft at John F. Kennedy airport. 
Si2 began its epic journey from Abu Dhabi in March 2015, with stops including Oman, India, China and Japan. 
It completed the first half of its circumnavigation of the globe late last summer, after breaking multiple records on a 7,212km trans-Pacific flight from Japan to Hawaii. 
Solar Impulse is expected to return to Abu Dhabi in July or August 2016.
Commenting on the plane's arrival in New York City, Majid Al Suwaidi, UAE Consul-General in New York, said: "We are pleased to have Solar Impulse 2 in New York.
"The whole team has shown enormous resolve and commitment throughout their journey, which started in Abu Dhabi, and ... the UAE (is) ... deeply proud to be supporting this mission.
"As a nation, we have made a very clear commitment to becoming a world leader in renewable energy knowledge, development and implementation, and it is initiatives like this that push the boundaries of R&D and human ingenuity to pioneer new technologies that take us all closer to a sustainable future."
Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive officer of Masdar, said: "The solar plane has taken an important message from all of us at Masdar to the heart of New York City: Through human ingenuity and global cooperation, we can achieve the impossible. Solar Impulse is a symbol of the transformative potential of innovative clean technology, and Masdar is proud to play a role in this global effort to power the future we want." 
Dr Nawal Al Hosany, Masdar's director of sustainability, who attended the landing in New York, commented, "Having witnessed the plane's maiden departure from Abu Dhabi, I am proud to see Solar Impulse - a symbol of the same pioneering spirit that drives Masdar every day - arrive today in New York City.
"The zero-fuel plane is an embodiment of Masdar's own belief in the power of clean energy innovation and global partnerships to transform the world."
Hasan Al Redaini, an employee of Mubadala Development Company and the UAE youth ambassador to Solar Impulse, who is accompanying the plane on its round-the-world trip, said: "Si2 proves that unfuelled solar-powered flight is now a reality and not just a vague aspiration for the future.
"On every stage of its journey, the plane has inspired the next generation of innovators and technologists to participate in our efforts to lead the way in increasing the share of renewables in our energy mix.
"I'm very happy to be playing my own part in spreading Abu Dhabi's message that clean energy can help us all secure a sustainable and prosperous future."
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com