MANDALAY: Solar Im­p­ulse 2 took off from Myanmar’s second biggest city of Mandalay early on Monday and headed for China’s Chongqing, the fifth flight of a landmark journey to circumnavigate the globe powered solely by the sun.

The single-seater aircraft’s team spent more than a week waiting in Mandalay for we­a­ther conditions to imp­rove in southwestern China for what will be one of the most challenging legs of the round-the-world attempt so far.

Speaking on a live feed from mission control in Monaco, Prince Albert gave pilot Bertrand Piccard clearance for takeoff.

“Bertrand, from Albert, you are clear to proceed. Have a nice flight, “Prince Albert said.

“Thank you very much my friend”, Piccard replied before taking off at around 3:35 am local time (2105 GMT on Sunday) into the dark pre-dawn skies.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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