THE SUNNIEST FLIGHT IN THE WORLD

The first solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse, made history yesterday (07.06.13), when it completed its maiden flight “Across America,” in the final leg of its journey, from Washington D.C. to New York. And while it wasn’t a flawless journey (a major tear in a wing occurred mid-flight), and it wasn’t able to buzz by the Statute of Liberty as planned, it was a glorious and momentous landing. Pilots, venture co-founders, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, posed, wearing yellow scarves, to pay tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of "The Little Prince."

 

Photo: Courtesy of Solar Impulse, July 6, 2013. New York.

 

Solar Impulse is ultra-light, weighing about as much as a car, with the wingspan of a 747 jumbo jet. The wings and horizontal stabilizer are encrusted with almost 12,000 solar cells, which power the plane and send excess electricity to an 800-lb mass of batteries. Solar Impulse only flies solo, which means it can fly only as long or as far as the pilot can go without needing a personal break. Otherwise, it could go on for 3,000 miles, which, at a top speed of 45 mph (73 kph) over three days, without a battery top up. Piccard and Borschberg traded turns piloting.

 

Photo: Fred Merz

 

The Swiss-made plane is attempting a record-breaking trip across the U.S. powered only by the sun.

 

Bertrand Piccard is one of the two pilots who take turns flying Solar Impulse. He has a genetic marker for adventure: His grandfather, a high-altitude balloonist, was the first human to see the curve of the Earth more than 80 years ago. His pioneering father took a submarine to the deepest ocean trench on Earth over 50 years ago. "We're flying the most extraordinary airplane in the world," Piccard said, in an interview with NBC News. "After a conquest of the planet, the 21st Century should be about improving the quality of life."

Photo: Stephanie Booth, Solar Impulse

 

Check out Borschberg’s in-flight Google+ Hangout with director, James Cameron, and Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.

Photo: Fred Merz

 

Solar Impulse, funded by a group of Swiss corporate investors, (€90/$115 million to date), aims to help inspire new technology development, ranging from solar-power generation and storage, to ultra-light composite materials.

 

While the Solar Impulse prototype has been flying in Europe and Africa over the past couple of years, this prototype will be retired. The next generation is already in development for anticipated around-the-world flights in 2015.

 

Borschberg and Piccard will participate in a NASDAQ opening-bell ceremony and are to meet with U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon on Tuesday.