Solar plane departs from China to Hawaii

The Swiss-made solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 departs from Nanjing Lukou International Airport in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, May 31, 2015.[Photo/Xinhua]

Bertrand Piccard, the plane's other pilot, said during his stay in Nanjing that the flight across the Pacific requires a period of clear weather, and forecasts predicted typhoons on the ocean over the past couple weeks.

Powered by more than 17,000 solar cells installed on its wings, Solar Impulse 2 is circumnavigating the globe to promote green energy.

The solar plane has been featured in a number of events during its stay in China to promote new energy and materials.

The plane has 12 scheduled stops in the around-the-world adventure. After reaching Hawaii, the solar-powered airplane will fly across the United States and stop in Africa before finally reaching Abu Dhabi, where it took off on March 9.

"I feel privileged to be able to try this flight... we have tools to adapt and we have the team to identify where to go. So I feel really confident to make it to Hawaii," said Borschberg.