As the elegant solar airplane, piloted by Bertrand Piccard, is slowly making its way to the first destination on this 2013 Across America adventure, it’s worth mentioning all the things that are travelling with him to keep him company.

There are five symbolic objects accompanying Bertrand on this journey, which will also fly with André on future legs. In fact, these objects are an integral part of this coast-to-coast flight.

• Small piece of fabric from the historical Vin Fiz Flyer – the first aircraft to cross the United States in 1911, New York to California, piloted by Calbraith Perry Rodgers. It was the first flyer to be sold to a private citizen by the Wright brothers, who also trained Calbraith as a pilot in only 90 minutes. The Vin Fiz took 3 months to cross the United States at a speed of 45-55 mph (72-88 km/h) with over 15 crashes.
• Explorer’s Club Flag N°50 – The same flag travelled to Morocco onboard HB-SIA during the 2012 Crossing Frontiers mission. Flag n°50 has certainly seen more of the world than the solar airplane: it’s been accompanying world renowned explorers on the most diverse missions since 1932 – from Asia to Africa, to Easter Island and the Caucasus. Bertrand is a third generation explorer as both his grandfather and father were members of the Club who also carried a flag on their expeditions. 
• Clean Generation Flag – The 2013 Across America mission acts also as the launching of a global initiative to gather support for the adoption of clean technologies. Solar Impulse is the Ambassador of technological innovation and the project’s co-founders, Bertrand and André, are seeking to raise awareness worldwide in support of a more sustainable future. Thousands of Supporters are already part of this people-powered movement. With each stopover, a “Clean Generation” flag with the name of the destination will be left as a souvenir to the pioneering cities that have chosen to host Solar Impulse.
• Supporters Across America – As part of the “Clean Generation” initiative, the name of all the Supporters’ will be virtually carried by the pilots André and Bertrand, city to city, in the cockpit via a USB key. As more Supporters join, more names will be added as proof of growing awareness.
• Nilsie the Mascott – A WWF stuffed animal representing a meerkat joined the team at the end of the 2012 Crossing Frontiers mission. The Solar Impulse Ground Crew purchased it as a gift to their esteemed team leader, Nils, who’s always running around, taking care of his team, ensuring everything is proceeding smoothly. His short stature makes him stand tall, alert, constantly checking out what’s going on, just like a meerkat. Nilsie the Mascott is therefore a respected and important passenger of this year’s mission. 

During the last step of the Mission 2012 between Madrid and Payerne via Toulouse, many of you were the one day official photographer for Solar Impulse. The entire team was very touched about the interest many of you showed and the number of picture which was uploaded during this event. Believe me André and Bertrand had a hard time choosing the 2 winners, as the pictures were original and creative.

Congratulations to Olivier Rapin (picture on the left) and to Hakan Erbuke (picture below) who were chosen for their pictures. They will receive a Solar Impulse Cap, an official Team t-shirt and the HB-SIA’s book signed by the 2 pilots.

Have a look below to the 2 albums where you can find all the pictures taken during the contest.

To answer this question which is frequently asked at conferences or in meetings with the public, we have devised the Supporter Program', which we unveiled last June 26 at the same time as the HB-SIA prototype. (You who read these lines cannot have helped noticing it on our home page.)

Adopting one of our 10 748 solar cells, personalizing it with a photo or a message, receiving a collector's badge, visiting our base with one of the pilots or placing your name on the aircraft is now not only possible, but as I write these lines, over 550 people across the vast world have already done so!

We see that these numbered cells are not adopted at random: whether it's their date of birth, a fetish number or a talisman, or has been arrived at by scientific calculations, everyone chooses their number according to very personal criteria. Or else just to be close to someone else: being next to Prince Albert of Monaco, Al Gore or one of the other famous project sponsor is, it seems, a must. But don't worry, Bernard Madoff's cell is elsewhere, not on the Solar Impulse.

But there is also another method that we did not think up ourselves. It originates in a collective rather than individual initiative. An entire town has decided to participate in the adventure by booking the cell corresponding to its zip code! You now know that to write to someone living in the charming town of Zumikon in the canton of Zurich, the zip code to use is 8126 ...

Which of Switzerland's 2 903 and Europe's 97 494 municipalities will be the next to follow?