Solar Impulse 2 flew 40,000 kilometers around the world powered by the sun alone. It was an endurance test for everyone.
Like a Jules Verne story
That was how Bertrand Piccard’s idea sounded: to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane without a drop of fuel. He spent 12 years together with a 60-man team of partners to prepare for the 17-stage flight. To circle the globe he alternated with André Borschberg as the pilot of Solar Impulse 2, landing 505 days later in Abu Dhabi where he had set out on the record flight. Four twin-bladed tractor propellers were driven by solar power, which was collected during the day by 11,628 photovoltaic cells affixed mainly to the 63.4-meter-long wings. The current was converted by an ABB microgrid, which also controlled its highly efficient distribution and storage in rechargeable batteries, from which the high-wing plane was powered at night. This high-flying dream provides very real evidence of what renewable energies can achieve when used intelligently – by courageous people, it should be added.
The dream of flying with clean energy becomes a reality
