Solar Impulse could be stuck in Japan for a year: pilot

Engineering -- whether design, electrical, social, other -- at its best.

Hundreds of problems, hundreds of details, hundreds pressures.

All respects to the entire team. Go make it happen!

This sounds about as well thought out as that Baumstein woman's paddle in the Pacific.

Well if the mans name is Piccard then I am sure he can get his friends Geordi Laforge and Data to work on the issue!

If they hangar the plane here for a year, is part the crew going to stay in Japan as well? I wonder what their visa applications will look like?

"I have to stay here to maintain my non-flying solar-powered aircraft" falls under, what, "Highly Skilled Professional (Engineer)"?

It's already failed. It's the same as me stopping for "breath" because we can't risk me drowning.

It would be impressive it was like a non-stop flight...but it's already had a 3 week holiday.

While the tech in this plane is amazing....it's still not that amazing. It can't fly for 3 weeks because of clouds.

The plane itself is very flimsy. The size of a 747 but the weight of a SUV. Its a plane made of plastified paper and small sheets of carbonfiber. Thats why its so slow. The structure cannot sustain 100km/hour wind. Like I said before. This looks like a reality show.

Land here in the rainy season and what do you expect? Wishing them a break anyway.