The Solar Impulse left Moffett Field in Mountain View just after dawn. It plans to stop in Phoenix, Dallas, Washington and New York. Each flight leg will take 20 to 25 hours, with 10-day stops in each city.
The plane is powered by about 12,000 photovoltaic cells that cover massive wings and charge its batteries, allowing it to fly day and night without jet fuel. But its low weight makes it vulnerable to bad weather.
Its creators say solar planes will never replace fuel-powered commercial flights. The goal is to showcase the potential of solar power.
The plane has already wowed aviation fans in Europe.
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