The Swiss Solar Impulse 2 has finally touched down at Chongqing's Jiangbei International Airport after leaving Myanmar, local portal chengdu.cn reports.
The plane was to briefly stop in Chongqing before pushing on to Nanjing, in Jiangsu province, but landing in the city has been delayed several times due to weather concerns.
With Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg at the controls, the Solar departed Abu Dhabi, capital of United Arab Emirates, on March 9 and will fly around the world in stages using only solar energy.
According to an expert, the fuel-free airplane requires particular conditions to leave the ground. Because the Solar Impulse 2 needs sufficient light to charge batteries, clear weather is a prerequisite for flight.
Wind power is another element that affects performance, the expert stated. Solar Impulse 2 has been designed to save energy, so it is very sensitive to airflow changes due to its lightweight, innovative design.
Chongqing might be the toughest landing place for the craft because of its mountainous conditions and strong air flow changes in the region, it was added.
In addition, the Solar Impulse 2 travels at a very slow speed of only 30 kilometers per hour in order to reduce energy consumption. "It will float up like a kite if it is faced with the same speed of wind," the expert explained.
The support of airport logistics staff is also an important factor as other airplanes have to give way for the landing of Solar Impulse 2.
After a short stay-over in Chongqing, Solar Impulse 2 will travel to the city of Nanjing and prepare for its first challenging ocean crossing, a five-day, five-night flight to Hawaii, according to the report.
