1999 Solar Impulse descends directly from a long tradition of exploration, adventure and scientific development. By launching this challenge soon after landing from his round-the-world balloon flight, Bertrand Piccard is continuing his family’s adventure, following on from the exploration of the stratosphere and the ocean depths. For him, an adventure such as this must serve to motivate society to tackle today’s challenges by using clean technologies. The immediate resonance that the Solar Impulse message found in business and political circles seems to justify this vision.
2003 Bertrand presented the project to the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL), which immediately agreed to launch a feasibility study. Leadership of the project was entrusted to André Borschberg, engineer and professional pilot. A friendship developed between the two men, who decided to work together.
Announcement of project launch on 28 November . That very evening, computer generated images of the solar airplane were shown repeatedly on CNN.
2004-2006 Signature of the first partnership agreements (Semper, Altran, Solvay) allowed engineers to be hired and concept development to start.
2007-2009 The team was assembled. New main sponsors (Omega and Deutsche Bank) allowed the design to be refined and manufacture of the prototype HB-SIA launched.
The aircraft was unveiled on 26 June 2009 in front of 800 guests.
2010 Professional test pilot Markus Scherdel began the first test flights, to examine the airplane’s flight envelope and certify it for night flight. On 7 July, HB-SIA, with André Borschberg at the controls, made the first night flight in the history of solar aviation, lasting in total 26 hours, 10 minutes and 19 seconds.
During this flight 3 world records were established: maximum altitude (9’235 meters), maximum duration (26h10m19s) and gain in altitude (8’744 meters).
Bayer MaterialScience became an official partner.
In September, the aircraft flew across Switzerland, landing at the international airports of Geneva and Zurich.
2011 Schindler became the fourth Main Sponsor
Under the patronage of the European Communities, Solar Impulse HB-SIA flew to Brussels and then to Paris-Le Bourget, where it featured as “guest of honor”.
In parallel, the Design team is developing the blueprint of Solar Impulse’s future airplane, HB-SIB.
2012 Destination Morocco: Mission to fly across the Mediterranean upon invitation of King Mohammed VI to promote the construction of the world’s largest thermo-solar power plant in Ouarzazate. This journey took place in 7 legs: Payerne-Madrid-Rabat-Ouarzazate-Rabat-Madrid-Toulouse-Payerne. During the first leg, 2 new world records were established: free distance and distance with waypoints.
SwissRe becomes Solar Impulse’s official insurer.
2013 Manufacturing of Solar impulse HB-SIB.
Destination USA: USA mission flight with the objective to undertake a continental flight from West to East meant to demonstrate the practical use of new technologies and the true potential of these scientific and industrial developments.
2014 Start of flight testing in HB-SIB, and training flights for Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg.
2015 Attempt to fly round the world, with a landing in each northern hemisphere continent. The starting point will be selected from among several candidate cities.
Since spring 2005, virtual flights in real weather conditions have been carried out almost every year.
These virtual flights have served to evaluate the aircraft's ability to string together a sequence of day/night flights. To do this generally means following a tortuous flight path to avoid areas of cloud on track.
In 2008, Bertrand and André each spent 25 hours in the HB-SIA flight simulator.
In February 2012, André succeeded in staying in the HB-SIB simulator for 72 hours, under the supervision of a team of doctors and nutritionists.
“The pioneer is not always the one who succeeds, but rather the one who is not scared of failing.” Bertrand Piccard
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2012: World’s first solar-powered intercontinental flight
A thrilling year for Solar Impulse starting with a simulation of a 72-hour flight and culminating in the decoration of André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard by King Mohammed VI after completing world’s first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight. While HB-SIA, piloted alternately by André Borschberg and Bertrand ...
A thrilling year for Solar Impulse starting with a simulation of a 72-hour flight and culminating in the decoration of André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard by King Mohammed VI after completing world’s first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight. While HB-SIA, piloted alternately by André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, made its way this summer from Payerne (Switzerland) to Ouarzazate (Morocco) with intermediate stops in Madrid (Spain) and Rabat (Morocco), Solar Impulse’s team of engineers continued the construction of HB-SIB, Solar Impulse’s second generation aircraft.
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Highlights of Solar Impulse’s Crossing Frontiers
After a successful conclusion to the world’s first roundtrip fully solar-powered intercontinental flight, here are the major highlights of what has been achieved:
MAY 2012
1. 24 May: Payerne ...
After a successful conclusion to the world’s first roundtrip fully solar-powered intercontinental flight, here are the major highlights of what has been achieved:
MAY 2012
1. 24 May: Payerne to Madrid
JUNE 2012
2. 5 June: Madrid to Rabat
3. 13 June: 1st Attempt Rabat to Ouarzazate
4. 21 June: 2nd Attempt Rabat to Ouarzazate
5. 29 June: Ouarzazate to Rabat
JULY 2012
6. 6 July: Rabat to Madrid
7. 17 July: Madrid to Toulouse
8. 24 July: Toulouse to Payerne
2011: HB-SIA’s first international flights
In early 2011 Schindler joined as Solar Impulse’ fourth main partner. It was also the year that HB-SIA undertook its first international flights to Europe’s central nervous system, Brussels (Belgium), and to the world renowned Paris Le Bourget Airshow ...
2011: HB-SIA’s first international flights
In early 2011 Schindler joined as Solar Impulse’ fourth main partner. It was also the year that HB-SIA undertook its first international flights to Europe’s central nervous system, Brussels (Belgium), and to the world renowned Paris Le Bourget Airshow (France) for aviation amateurs. After two exciting months abroad, the prototype returned home safely and Bertrand Piccard flew the solar aircraft for the first time.
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2010: World’s first solar-powered aircraft to fly through the night
In 2010, HB-SIA moved to its new home from Dübendorf to Payerne. Dübendorf is the location for the construction of the Solar Impulse aircrafts while Payerne is where flight tests happen. In April, test pilot Markus Scherdel took ...
2010: World’s first solar-powered aircraft to fly through the night
In 2010, HB-SIA moved to its new home from Dübendorf to Payerne. Dübendorf is the location for the construction of the Solar Impulse aircrafts while Payerne is where flight tests happen. In April, test pilot Markus Scherdel took the prototype for its first flight, lasting 87 minutes and up to 1'000 meters altitude. André Borschberg flew the prototype for the first time in May and in June already embarked in an unprecedented feat that also became a world record: a fully solar-powered night flight lasting 26 hours. After this technological success, Solar Impulse undertook two Swiss flights: Payerne-Geneva and Payerne-Zurich.
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