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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Solar Impulse: Fuel-free aeroplane arrives in Myanmar | Solar Impulse: Fuel-free aeroplane arrives in Myanmar |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Solar Impulse has arrived in Mandalay in Myanmar (Burma). | Solar Impulse has arrived in Mandalay in Myanmar (Burma). |
| In doing so, the solar-powered plane has completed the fourth leg in its historic bid to fly around the world powered only by the Sun's rays. | In doing so, the solar-powered plane has completed the fourth leg in its historic bid to fly around the world powered only by the Sun's rays. |
| Project chairman Bertrand Piccard piloted the vehicle, taking off from Varanasi in India early on Thursday. | Project chairman Bertrand Piccard piloted the vehicle, taking off from Varanasi in India early on Thursday. |
| The trip, which involved crossing the waters of the Bay of Bengal and a tall mountain range, was about 1,400km in length. | The trip, which involved crossing the waters of the Bay of Bengal and a tall mountain range, was about 1,400km in length. |
| The aeroplane is a single-seater, and Piccard takes it in turn with project CEO Andre Borschberg to guide Solar Impulse on its circumnavigation of the globe. | The aeroplane is a single-seater, and Piccard takes it in turn with project CEO Andre Borschberg to guide Solar Impulse on its circumnavigation of the globe. |
| So far, the pair have covered about 4,500km since beginning their adventure in Abu Dhabi on 9 March. | So far, the pair have covered about 4,500km since beginning their adventure in Abu Dhabi on 9 March. |
| It will likely be another five months before they return to the United Arab Emirates, having crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the process. | It will likely be another five months before they return to the United Arab Emirates, having crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the process. |
| Thursday's flight followed on immediately from leg three on Wednesday. That was made across India, from Ahmedabad to Varanasi, with Andre Borschberg at the controls. | |
| After a short "pit stop" of just a few hours, Bertrand Piccard was up in the air for what turned out to be another record-breaking flight. | |
| This time, the mark set was for the fastest speed in a solar-powered plane. | |
| "You just receive what nature wants to give you but it's true that today I was flying at 200km/h. I think that's the fastest speed with Solar Impulse." | |
| That was confirmed by mission director Raymond Clerc. | |
| "This time we touched 117 knots (216km/h). We were focused on the instruments, on our groundspeed indicator, because we knew it would come because we were in this jet stream. It's amazing." | |
| The previous fastest speed was about 95 knots (175km/h; 110mph). | |
| Solar Impulse has already set a record during this mission for the greatest distance covered in a single solar-powered flight. | |
| This was the 1,468km attained on leg two from Muscat in Oman to Ahmedabad. | This was the 1,468km attained on leg two from Muscat in Oman to Ahmedabad. |
| The wingspan of the vehicle is 72m, which exceeds that of a 747 jumbo jet airliner. It does, however, only weigh 2.3 tonnes. | The wingspan of the vehicle is 72m, which exceeds that of a 747 jumbo jet airliner. It does, however, only weigh 2.3 tonnes. |
| Its light weight will be critical to its success over the coming months. | Its light weight will be critical to its success over the coming months. |
| So, too, will the performance of the 17,000 solar cells that line the top of the wings, and the energy-dense lithium-ion batteries it will use to sustain night-time flying. | So, too, will the performance of the 17,000 solar cells that line the top of the wings, and the energy-dense lithium-ion batteries it will use to sustain night-time flying. |
| The Pacific and Atlantic crossings will require Solar Impulse to fly non-stop for several days at a time. | The Pacific and Atlantic crossings will require Solar Impulse to fly non-stop for several days at a time. |
| This will put tremendous stress on Borschberg and Piccard, who will be permitted only short cat-naps on these long legs. | This will put tremendous stress on Borschberg and Piccard, who will be permitted only short cat-naps on these long legs. |
| The Solar Impulse venture recalls other great circumnavigation feats in aviation - albeit fuelled ones. | The Solar Impulse venture recalls other great circumnavigation feats in aviation - albeit fuelled ones. |
| In 1986, the Voyager aircraft became the first to fly around the world without stopping or refuelling. | In 1986, the Voyager aircraft became the first to fly around the world without stopping or refuelling. |
| Piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, the propeller-driven vehicle took nine days to complete its journey. | Piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, the propeller-driven vehicle took nine days to complete its journey. |
| Then, in 2005, this time was beaten by the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, which was solo-piloted by Steve Fossett. | Then, in 2005, this time was beaten by the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, which was solo-piloted by Steve Fossett. |
| A jet-powered plane, GlobalFlyer completed its non-stop circumnavigation in just under three days. | A jet-powered plane, GlobalFlyer completed its non-stop circumnavigation in just under three days. |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |