Solar plane sets distance record on US tour

LOS ANGELES: The first manned aircraft that can fly day and night powered only by solar energy set a new distance record Thursday when it landed after the second leg of a cross-country US tour.
The Solar Impulse project, founded and led by two Swiss pilots, aims to showcase what can be accomplished without fossil fuels, and has set its "ultimate goal" as an around-the-world flight in 2015.
Solar Impulse landed in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas at 1:08 am (0608 GMT) after an 18 hour and 21 minute flight from Phoenix, Arizona, a distance of 1,541 kilometers (950 miles), organizers said in a statement.
"This leg was particularly challenging because of fairly strong winds at the landing. It also was the longest flight -- in terms of distance -- ever flown by a solar airplane," the plane's pilot Andre Borschberg said.
"You have to understand that the pilot needs to stay awake for more than 20 hours without any autopilot," added Borschberg, who holds the record for the longest solar-powered flight, at 26 hours.
The previous distance record was attained by Solar Impulse one year ago on a 1,116 kilometer (693 mile) flight from Switzerland to Spain.
The first leg of Solar Impulse's US tour took place on May 3, when Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard flew the aircraft from the San Francisco, California area to Phoenix.
On the first leg the plane -- which has a slim body and four electric engines attached to enormous wings -- flew quietly at an average speed of about 30 miles (49 kilometers) per hour.
Energy provided by 12,000 solar cells powered the plane's propellers.
The plane can fly at night by reaching a high elevation of 27,000 feet (8,230 meters) and then gently gliding downward, using almost no power until the sun comes up to begin recharging the solar cells.
The US itinerary allows for up to 10 days at each stop in order to showcase the plane's technology to the public. Another stop is planned in the US capital Washington before the trip concludes in New York in early July.
The stopovers will allow Piccard and Borschberg to share duties and rest between flights.

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Japan man, 80, scales Everest, sets record

KATHMANDU: An 80-year-old Japanese climber reached the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday, becoming the oldest person to scale the world's highest mountain, his website and a Nepalese official said.

Yuichiro Miura and his party arrived at the summit at around 9am (0315 GMT), according to the website.

"I feel like the happiest person in the world. How could I have come so far at the world's oldest age of 80," Miura said. "I have never felt like this in my life. But I've never been more exhausted than this."

"I can see the scenery of the Himalayas below me. I really thank every one of you for your support."

It was his third conquest of the 8,848-metre (29,028-foot) peak, and his latest feat means he recaptures the record he previously held for being the oldest person to climb Everest.

He previously reached the summit when he was 70 and 75.

His 2003 record was broken in 2007 when fellow Japanese Katsusuke Yanagisawa scaled the summit when he was 71 years old.

Miura conquered Everest for the second time in May 2008, just one day after Nepal's Min Bahadur Sherchan made it to the top at the age of 76.

Until Thursday morning, the Nepalese had been the world record holder, according to Guinness World Records.

Miura was now climbing back down the mountain, a Nepalese tourism official said, confirming the successful ascent.

"He reached the summit this morning and is currently descending to camp four," the official, Gyanendra Shrestha, told AFP from Everest Base Camp.

Veteran adventurer Miura came to worldwide attention in 1970 when he became the first person to ski down Everest.

His parachute-aided descent was documented in the 1975 film "The Man Who Skied Down Everest" which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

High-octane endeavours are in his blood -- his father Keizo skied down Mont Blanc at age 99.

More than 3,000 people have successfully scaled Everest, but the mountain claims lives regularly, with even the best climbers falling victim to its fickle weather. (AFP)

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