Solar Impulse 2 landed in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 25 July, completing the first round-the-world flight by a solar powered plane.
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Built by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg as a proof-of-concept, it could pave the way for more green technology in aerospace and elsewhere.
The four-engine, battery-powered aircraft relies on around 17,000 solar cells in its wings. “If we can do it on a plane, we can certainly do it everywhere on the ground”, he says. Like a magnifying glass used to focus the sun’s rays, Solar Impulse 2 has ignited the imagination, telling us that clean energy is already possible, though the climate wars rage on. An empty Boeing 747, in comparison, weighs 181,000 kilograms. To help steady it during takeoffs and landings, the plane was guided by runners and bicyclists.
Despite its historic mission, the Solar Impluse 2’s journey was far from quick or problem-free. Solar Impulse flew near the Statue of Liberty and Egypt’s pyramids for photo opportunities and was grounded for more than half a year in Hawaii due to battery overheating along the way.
The plane had 16 stopovers along the way including in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, the United States, Spain and Egypt.
When Borschberg crossed the Pacific – a journey of 6,500 km – he had completed the longest uninterrupted journey in aviation history, just one of 19 records broken.
Solar Impulse 2 took off from Cairo on the final leg early on Sunday, having previously crossed Asia, North America, Europe, and North Africa. The pilots had to sleep for 20 minute intervals and relieve themselves in their seat, unable to leave the tiny cockpit during flight. Goggles worn over the pilot’s eyes flashed lights to wake him up while armbands placed underneath their suits buzzed when the plane was not at flying level.
Piccard, a psychiatrist, is the son of undersea explorer Jacques Piccard and a grandson of balloonist Auguste Piccard.
Mr Borschberg, an engineer and graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is also an entrepreneur. They’re also working on Masdar City, an experimental clean-energy showcase located near Abu Dhabi’s largest airport. It was a promotional project to demonstrate the viability of solar power, by putting it to the most challenging use – heavier than air flight, including night flying.
The United Arab Emirates might not seem like an obvious spot to begin and end a globe-spanning flight promoting renewable energy.
The project is estimated to cost more than $100 million.
After landing in Abu Dhabi, Piccard called the journey not only an achievement for the history of aviation, but a success for the history of energy.
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Al-Ramahi said the company has invested $2.7 billion into clean-energy projects over the past decade.
