Solar Impulse Airplane Lands in St. Louis, See It Now

A solar-powered plane has made its way to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

The plane took-off  early Monday from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.  It landed just at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday morning. 

Solar Impulse pilot Bertrand Piccard believed it would take him about 21 hours to get to St. Louis. 

The solar-powered plane has 800 pounds of batteries on board the sun powers. This enables the plane to fly in the dark and  on battery-power.

Due to Friday's storm damage the plane will rest in its own inflatable hanger,  instead of using one of Lambert's.

Two open house days are scheduled Thursday, between 9 a.m. and noon, or Friday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are limited and handed out on a first comes, first serves basis. Everybody must have a valid ticket, including children. Click here to reserve your spot. 

This is the first aircraft capable of flying 24 hours day and night using solar energy as power. The Solar Impulse Across America flight began in San Francisco’s Moffett Field. 

Solar Impulse is a prototype carbon fiber airplane with a wingspan of a jumbo jet, 208 feet; and the weight of a small car, 3,500 pounds. Twelve-thousand solar cells  will power the plane. They are built into its wings, which provide power to four electric motors. The solar cells will recharge the aircraft’s lithium batteries during the day flight. This allows the plane to continue flying at night.                         An old 246,000 sq. ft. building that was once a McDonnell Douglas facility will be used to store the plane that has a 208 foot wingspan.

The flight plan also includes stops at Phoenix Sky Harbor, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington DC-Dulles and New York’s JFK. Solar Impulse said not one drop of fuel will be used along the way.

You can watch the Solar Impulse flight online.