Solar Impulse-2 takes off for Varanasi from Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, March 18: The world's only 'zero-fuel' aircraft 'Solar Impulse-2' today took off from here for the holy city of Varanasi as a part of its round-the-world trip.

Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg flew the aircraft from here at 7.18 am local time. The flight was delayed by about two hours from its scheduled departure, said a press release from the SI-2 team.

"Andre Borschberg and Si2 are airborne in India, flying from Ahmedabad to Varanasi, entirely Powered By The Sun," SI-2 team said in a tweet today.

"The tent hosting Si2 in Ahmedabad is now empty and the solar airplane on its way to Varanasi," it further tweeted.

SI-2 is scheduled to fly to Mandalay in Myanmar, Chongqing and Nanjing in China

The globe-trotting SI-2 landed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here on March 10, after a nearly 15-hour flight from Muscat. Borschberg, the project's co-founder, and co-pilot and project President Bertrand Piccard spent over a week in the city during the plane's stopover here.

The aircraft began its journey on March 9 from Abu Dhabi. Swiss pilot Piccard had flown the plane from Muscat to Ahmedabad, while Borschberg today flew the world's first solar-powered aircraft to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

From Varanasi, the SI-2 is scheduled to fly to Mandalay in Myanmar, Chongqing and Nanjing in China and thereafter to the US.

PTI