Solar Impulse Around the World in a Solar Powered Airplane

Solar Impulse - Around the world in a solar Airplane

Solar Impulse  Around the World in a Solar Powered Airplane

Founded on November 26, 2003

We demonstrated that a solar-powered Airplane can Fly day and night without fuel. The challenge is now to Fly around the world in 2015.

Company Overview

Solar Impulse is the only Airplane of Perpetual Endurance, able to Fly day and night on Solar Power, 


Technical Datasheet :

Wingspan: 72 m
Length: 22.4 m
Height: 6.4 m... See More
General Information
December 3, 2009: First Take-Off, a 'flea-hop'
April-June, 2010: Tests Flights
July 7, 2010: First Day and Night Flight
Sept. 
Mission
Chapters in an epic :

- 2010: Solar Impulse 1’s first solar-powered night flight
- 2011: Solar flights in Europe
- 2012: Cr.. 

Awards

Brunswick Prize 2009
Clarins Men Prize 2010
Watt d'or Prize 2010
Solar Swiss Prize 2010
European Solar Prize 2010. 
Brunswick Prize 2009
Clarins Men Prize 2010
Watt d'or Prize 2010
Solar Swiss Prize 2010
European Solar Prize 2010
Icare Prize 2010
Best Of What's New 2010, Aviation and Space
Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize, 2011
SolarWorld Einstein Award 2011

Three World Records (awarded by the International Aeronautical Federation) :
- Flight duration, 26 hours and 11 minuts
- Maximum altitude ever reached by a solar plane, 8700 m
- Gain in altitude, 8261 m in 11 hours and 53 minutes

« LES AILES DU SOLEIL» documentAire réalisé par Henri de Gerlache ( coproduction Free Studio, Alize Productions, en association avec ARTE France ) sur l’aventure du premier vol de 26 heures de l’avion solAire de Bertrand Piccard et André Borschberg, a reçu :

- Grand prix de la réalisation et Asteria d’argent Festival international du film corporate pour l'écologie et le développement durable – Deauville - Avril 2012
- Prix de l’information scientifique – Festival du Scoop – Lille – Décembre 2011 
- Prix Roberval - Catégorie Télévision – Paris - Novembre 2011
- Green award - XVI International Environmental Film Festival "Green Vision"- Saint Petersbourg - Novembre 2011
- Phoenix d'or du film d'aventure scientifique, Festival Explorimages Nice – Novembre 2011
- Toison d’or de l’aventurier de l’année : André Borschberg, Ecrans de l’Aventure, Dijon 
- le prix spécial du jury aux Ecrans de l’Aventure – Dijon – Novembre 2011
- l’Ancre de Bronze au Festival du Film maritime et d’exploration de Toulon en octobre 2011
- Prix du Ministry of Traffic, Post and Telecommunication au 38th International Festival of Sustainable Development Films - Ekotopfilm 2011- Bratislava – Octobre 2011
- Icare de l’aventure scientifique à la Coupe Icare en sept. 2011 à St HilAire du Touvet. 
- Trophée d’Argent au Festival International du Film scientifique de la Réunion en avril 2011. 
- le Grand Prix de la meilleure réalisation, au Festival DEAUVILLE GREEN AWARDS
Email
supporters@solarimpulse.com

Two men, both pioneers, innovators and pilots, are the driving force behind Solar Impulse.

Bertrand Piccard, a doctor, psychiatrist, explorer and Aeronaut, who made the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, is the initiator and chAirman.

André Borschberg, an engineer and graduate in management science, a fighter pilot and a professional Airplane and helicopter pilot, is the co-founder and CEO.

The former’s avant-gardist vision and the latter’s entrepreneurial and managerial experience are an ideal combination.


Capt BERTRAND PICCARD

Initiator, Chairman and Pilot in Command of Solar Impulse

Born in a dynasty of explorers and scientists who conquered the heights and the depths of our planet.
Psychiatrist specialised in hypnosis
International motivational speaker
Initiator of the Breitling Orbiter project and captain of the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, capturing 7 FAI world records for the longest flight of the entire aviation's history for both distance and duration.

Pioneer of hang-gliding and microlight Flying in Europe; European Hang Glider Aerobatics Champion.

Captain ANDRÉ BORSCHBERG :

CEO, co-founder and Pilot of Solar Impulse.
Engineer from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)
Graduate of the Sloan School (MIT) in management science
Entrepreneur Specialised in start-up companies
Trained as Swiss Air Force Pilot
8 FAI world records for distance, altitude and duration in a solar Airplane