Solar Impulse took to the air today at 2.39am local time (6.39pm UTC) from Nanjing, China, and started its fantastic bid to cross the Pacific Ocean without using any fuel. If André Borschberg, the pilot of the aircraft, successfully lands in Hawaii, he will have achieved the longest flight in distance and duration by a solar-powered aircraft.

The Swiss pilot had to wait for several weeks to get the go-ahead from the meteorologists who were looking for favourable weather conditions for a period as long as five to six days. This is indeed the expected time it will take for Borschberg to achieve his epic solo flight.

Follow Solar Impulse on its extraordinary journey live on Youtube !