MAKING HISTORY

Solar Plane Leaves Japan for Hawaii

Pilot is past the point of no return.

A solar-powered plane took off from Japan on Sunday in its second attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean and reach Hawaii in about 120 hours. Pilot Andre Borscheberg had passed the point of no return "and must now see this 5 days 5 nights flight through to the end," a statement on the Solar Impulse website said. The team has waited nearly two months for better weather after the plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing due to poor conditions. An attempt to take off last Tuesday was cancelled over potential bad weather. If Borscheberg succeeds, it will be the longest solo flight in aviation history for a plane that is powered only by the Sun.