Last week, the Solar Impulse team at Moffett was presented with an unusual visit. Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of Virgin Group, British business tycoon and entrepreneur, showed up at Moffett Airfield. Although it might have appeared as a surprise, the parallels between Solar Impulse and Richard are all too evident for it to be a simple coincidence.

Richard and Bertrand have a relationship that stretches back to their ballooning days. In fact, Richard, with Per Lindstrand, were the first to cross the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon in 1991. Seven years later, in 1999, Bertrand, with Brian Jones, were the first to circumnavigate the globe beating Richard, Linstrand and Fossett’s similar attempt in 1998. “I doff my cap to him” Richard said elegantly when asked about the potential rivalry this might have caused.

Richard was extremely enthusiastic and impressed at the sight of Solar Impulse, to the point that he jokingly added, "I just need to find a way to smuggle that plane out in my pocket!” Richard is also looking at ways to harness solar power by using it to tow aircraft onto the runway in the near future.

One could feel the camaraderie between André, Bertrand and Richard as the pilots showed off their engineering jewel to the Englishman. He even recognized, in HB-SIA’s sleek silhouette, a great communication tool – a message carrier, a “weapon” to showcase the potential of clean techs and innovation – values Richard also shares.

Richard didn’t hesitate to become Solar Impulse’s Patron and, as he was leaving for another engagement in his busy schedule, he gave big thumbs up with his trademark smile “I always set myself challenges that might seem impossible…” Wait, haven’t I heard that somewhere already? André? Bertrand? I think we found our project’s new soul mate! 

During the last flight from Madrid to Toulouse, Bertrand Piccard had a singular and very stimulating call from one of Solar Impulse’s newest patrons, James Cameron, film Director of world renowned movies such as Titanic and Avatar.

The Solar Impulse program is privileged to have a number of eminent supporters who believe in the project and its message. There are two types of patrons: the humanists, including Prince Albert II of Monaco, Paolo Coelho, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Al Gore, Jean Verne, Jean-Louis Etienne, Hubert Reeves; and the explorers, including Richard Wiese, Erik Lindbergh, Nicolas Hulot, Don Walsh, Elie Wiesel, Buzz Aldrin and, the most recent to join, James Cameron.

James Cameron supports Solar Impulse not only for its vision of seeking solutions away from the dependence on fossil fuels, but also for its pioneering spirit. An explorer himself, he followed the traces of Bertrand’s father, Jacques Piccard, and Solar Impulse’s patron, Don Walsh, descending to the Mariana Trench this year, the Earth’s deepest point. He even jokingly said that he’s making movies just to finance his thirst for adventure.

James Cameron said he instantaneously accepted the proposition to become a Solar Impulse patron as he and Don Walsh bestowed the Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society this June upon Jacques Piccard posthumously.  

A long-standing supporter and patron of Solar Impulse, Yann Arthus-Bertrand was received nothwithstanding the play on words in the title -  by both Bertrand Piccard  and André Borschberg, who gave him a guided tour taking in virtually every conceivable aspect of the airplane.

Known throughout the world for his aerial photography, and also once a pilot himself, the ace lensman confided in me that when Bertrand first told him about the project, he did not have much faith that it would work. But then he added, full of enthusiasm and immediately adopting the familiar, friendly tone that is his style: "You know, we need pioneers and people who believe in the impossible. This project is a dream; but the dream has become reality. And then Bertrand has such tremendous powers of persuasion that when he decides he wants something even something that seems completely mad he manages somehow to achieve it. He convinces people to follow him in his various endeavors, and what is really extraordinary is that these projects actually work !