Historic solar flight marks first round-the-world journey

The solar-powered electric plane Solar Impulse 2 made history just after midnight today by completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth powered only by energy from the Sun.

Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered airplane, finished its historic trip around the world, which started back in March 2015.

His single-seat monoplane-the company’s second, named Solar Impulse 2 (Si2)-sports a massive panel of solar cells, reaching 79 yards (the wingspan of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet).

Swiss explorer and project director Bertrand Piccard was in the cockpit during the more than 48-hour flight from Cairo, crossing the Red Sea, the vast Saudi desert and the Gulf. The two hugged and pumped their fists in excitement.

Piccard and Borschberg recently established the International Committee of Clean Technology (ICCT), which will research and develop concrete solutions for a clean future.

“You are helping pilot us to that future through your vision, your determination, your courage, and your inspiration and also your great example”, said Ban. The future is now. Let’s take it further. They chose to split the round-the-world trip into multiple segments because of the low velocity that would be achieved by Solar Impulse, comparable to a modern vehicle. It runs on four lithium polymer batteries at night.

“The world is moving”.

He has been taking turns at the controls with Swiss compatriot Andre Borschberg, with the mission aiming to promote renewable energy.

While shorter flights could have proven that the technology worked, Borschberg and Piccard wanted to make a point in a big way: there are massive opportunities with current solar and energy efficiency tech. It’s with great emotion that I write this last blog to report on the Round-the-World solar flights. The voyage was divided into 17 legs that took the plane and its pilots from the UAE to Oman, then to India, Myanmar, China, Japan, the US, Spain, and Egypt before returning to Abu Dhabi. Its North American stops included California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and NY.

Previous legs of the journey took Piccard and his alternative pilot and Solar Impulse co-founder Andre Borschberg over India, China, the Pacific Ocean, the continental USA, the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and the Mediterranean as it set a string of solar-flight records.

“What an extraordinary experience to have witnessed the culmination of this 12-year design project and collaborative effort to build and fly an aircraft that many thought impossible”, said Bernard Charlès, Vice Chairman & CEO, Dassault Systèmes.