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  • Solar impulse 2
    Solar Impulse 2 just ahead of taking off from Ahmedabad airport for its next destination Varanasi.Twitter/André Borschberg
  • Solar impulse 2
    Solar Impulse 2 just ahead of taking off from Ahmedabad airport for its next destination Varanasi.Twitter/André Borschberg
  • Solar impulse 2
    Solar Impulse 2 just ahead of taking off from Ahmedabad airport for its next destination Varanasi.Twitter/André Borschberg
  • Solar impulse 2
    André Borschberg in the cockpit of Solar Impulse 2 ahead of taking off from Ahmedabad airport for its next destination Varanasi.Twitter/André Borschberg
  • Solar impulse 2
    André Borschberg with traditional dancer from Ahmedabad before taking off in SI2.Twitter/André Borschberg
  • Solar impulse 2
    André Borschberg with traditional dancers from Ahmedabad before taking off in SI2.Twitter/André Borschberg

World's first solar-powered plane, the experimental Swiss Solar Impulse 2, took off from Ahmedabad airport on Wednesday morning for its next destination Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Watch LIVE landing of SI2 in Varanasi.

 

4:11PM: #LIVE from #Varanasi ground crew is unloading our cargo and rushes to prepare @andreborschberg landing in a few hours

4:10pm: @solarimpulse has just entered the Uttar Pradesh airspace! People waiting to welcome the clean tech at #Varanasi #SI2inVaranasi

2:45PM: UPDATE: #Si2passport issue is solved, #solarTEAM ready to move to #Varanasi. Many THANKS for your help today!

2:07 PM: "While we are looking for a solution to #Si2passport thanks to ALL of you, #Si2 is above #Bhopal!": Solar Impulse

The plane is scheduled to land in Varanasi at around 9 pm IST, however, the Ahmedabad SI2 team can be delayed as they are stuck in Ahmedabad airport due to obstruction in custom clearance, according to Solar Impulse Twitter page.

#Si2passport: if @bertrandpiccard is delayed, we won't arrive on time in #Varanasi & #Flight4 can be compromised.

The #solarTEAM in #Ahmedabad is patiently waiting for @bertrandpiccard to get his passport stamped! #Si2passport

"#Si2 took off in Ahmedabad at 7:18 local time for #Flight3 of the #RTW mission. Next stop Varanasi. Have a good flight, @andreborschberg!" BayerMaterialScience tweeted.

Watch SI2 take off from Ahmedabad for Varanasi

The plane reached Ahmedabad airport late at night on 10 March and the two pilots and the founders of the Solar Impulse, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, stayed in the city for seven days, promoting clean technology and creating awareness on clean energy usage that will be carried on to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The pre-flight show of the SI2 will start at 12:30pm UTC and 6pm IST and can be tracked live on SolarImpulse.com. The solar-powered plane that was under Piccard's control on its way to Ahmedabad, Gujarat from Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, will now be flown by Borschberg.

The SI2 team has already reached the city for preparations for its landing, while the crew in Ahmedabad is preparing for the plane's take-off on Wednesday morning, 18 March.

SI2 had embarked on circumnavigation of Earth, starting from Abu Dhabi on 9 March at 3:12am UTC, making its second stop at Muscat in Oman on 10 March at 2:35am UTC, crossing over the Arabian Sea, it reached Ahmedabad on 10 March and now it will head for its next destination, Varanasi.

The solar plane is expected to make 11 stops across the world over a period of five months before it flies back to its originating destination, Abu Dhabi. 

Read in detail about the plane solely powered by solar energy and its next destinations that will be covered by the end of May this year. And throughout this journey, both pilots Piccard and Borschberg will take turns to fly the aircraft after each stop.