Solar Impulse takes to the skies on first round-the-world solar flight
Solar Impulse 2 set course from Abu Dhabi to Muscat on the first leg of a groundbreaking attempt to fly across the globe powered only by energy from the sun
Twelve years of inspiration, innovation and perspiration from a highly dedicated Solar Impulse team culminated in the Solar Impulse plane successfully taking off from the Al Bateen executive airport in Abu Dhabi at 07:12 local time yesterday. Hailing from a family of adventurers this day fulfilled Bertrand Piccard’s dream of one day flying a plane with no fuel whatsoever.
— Bertrand PICCARD (@bertrandpiccard) March 9, 2015
Today @andreborschberg and I launch our #RTW as a symbol of clean technologies #FutureIsClean pic.twitter.com/ZhVP3fUR5m
— Bertrand PICCARD (@bertrandpiccard) March 9, 2015
Piloted by André Borschberg, Solar Impulse CEO and former fighter pilot, the plane set course for Muscat on the first of 12 legs of an historic attempt to fly 35000 kilometers across the globe in a purely solar-powered aircraft.
Flying @solarimpulse gives the possibility to enjoy the present moment #RTW pic.twitter.com/WSsd6NXBah
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg) March 9, 2015
The single-seater aircraft, with a wingspan wider than that of a Jumbo 747 and its weight the equivalent of a family car, set off on the estimated twelve hour flight, covering 400 kilometers to Muscat International Airport.
Standing by for its arrival on the tarmac is a state-of-the-art mobile hangar designed to house, cool and protect the plane. The hangar, which takes six hours to set up, travels around with the Solar Impulse crew and is looked after by a 20-strong team, which includes ABB field engineer Tamara Tursijan.
Photo gallery: images taken on the day of the takeoff
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- The iconic Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi
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- Abu Dhabi skyline
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- Scenes from Solar Impulse’s pre-flight press conference
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- Solar Impulse’s pre-flight press conference
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- Solar Impulse’s pre-flight press conference
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- Tamara Tursijan, one the the ABB engineers embedded on the Solar Impulse team, works with her colleagues
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- Tamara Tursijan, one of the three ABB engineers embedded on the Solar Impulse team, helps perform a final pre-flight check on the plane.
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- ABB’s Michael Pietig (far left) and ABB’s Pierre Leretz, region division head, Process Automation, AMEA (far right) present Solar Impulse co-pilots André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard with best wishes written by ABB employees
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- Final preparations to the plane before departure
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- André Borschberg is set to fly the first leg of the round-the-world trip.
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- Just before dawn, the Solar Impulse taxis out onto the runway before its departure
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- Solar Impulse at takeoff: next stop, Muscat, Oman
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- Solar Impulse lifts off
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- Solar Impulse on the first leg of its round-the-world flight.
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- Tamara Tursijan, one of the three ABB engineers embedded on the Solar Impulse team, works with the ground crew.
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