Solar plane begins longest solo flight in history

The revolutionary Solar Impulse 2 aircraft has taken off for a flight over the Pacific Ocean in the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.

Solar plane touches down in China - AAP Source: AAP

The plane left the ground in central Japan five days after weather problems forced the organisers to cancel an earlier attempt to reach Hawaii.

Solar Impulse 2 set off from Abu Dhabi earlier this year in a multi-leg attempt to get all the way around the world without a single drop of fuel.