It capped a remarkable 43,000-kilometer (26,700-mile) journey across four continents, two oceans and three seas, accomplished in 23 days of flying without a drop of fuel.
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The UN chief last met the airplane’s pilots, as well as Solar Impulse’s ground crew, in June when the aircraft arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport one of the stops on its voyage of circumnavigation.
Solvay SA, which co-sponsored from the start, and provided materials used throughout the plane, congratulated pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. They hugged and pumped their fists in the air.
Piccard and Borschberg recently established the International Committee of Clean Technology (ICCT), which will research and develop concrete solutions for a clean future. The future is now. Let’s take it further.
The Solar Impulse was as heavy as a family-sized automobile but was still able to reach speeds up to 62 miles per hour (100 kph) and altitudes of almost 28,000 feet (8,500 meters).
Solar Impulse 2 – a funky-looking, experimental, sun-powered plane that’s attracted a lot of attention – took off from a Phoenix airport toward Tulsa, Oklahoma. It runs on four lithium polymer batteries at night. The plane’s wingspan stretches 72 meters to catch the sun’s energy.
“The world is moving”.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan tweeted: “We hope the success of @solarimpulse helps to deliver Abu Dhabi’s message about the need to invest in clean energy and encourage innovation”.
Commenting on the achievement, Initiator, Chairman and Pilot Bertrand Piccard said “This is not only a first in the history of aviation; it’s before all a first in the history of energy”.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday hailed the determination and courage of the Solar Impulse flight team as the aircraft was about to complete its around-the-world journey.
The plane had 16 stopovers along the way including in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, the United States, Spain and Egypt. Its North American stops included California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and NY.
“One thing I would like for you to remember: More than an achievement in the history of aviation, Solar Impulse has made an achievement in (the) history of energy”, he said. It is entirely powered by sunlight through 17,000 solar cells built into its carbon fibre wings, with no fuel or polluting emissions.
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For the two Swiss pioneers, it’s the accomplishment of a dream that was considered impossible by many and the demonstration that renewable energies and efficient technologies offer tangible solutions for sustainability.
