Solar Impulse 2 to be on display in Arizona

PHOENIX — Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered airplane making a historic trip around the world, will be open for public viewings after all while it lays over in the Phoenix area this week.

The plane, which uses no fuel and only energy from the sun, made its long-awaited stop in the Phoenix area Monday, touching down at Phoenix Goodyear Airport to cheers and applause.

Originally, officials said Solar Impulse 2 would not be open for public visits because the team tentatively was planning to depart Wednesday to take advantage of ideal weather conditions.

However, the plane is now delayed in Phoenix until next Monday.

"After receiving an email from our mission director saying we wouldn’t be flying before next Monday, the first thing we did was set up a public visit day for everyone in Phoenix and around to be able to come see the plane," said a post on the plane's official blog.

Solar Impulse 2 will be open for public viewing Saturday at the plane's hangar at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, Ariz.

All visitors must register in advance here. Tickets are free, but limited.

The first iteration of the solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse 1, landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in May 2013 during its attempt then to fly across the country. That year, thousands of area residents — including many state leaders and lawmakers — visited the pilots and the solar plane over two days of public viewings at Sky Harbor.

Follow Amy B Wang on Twitter: @amybwang