Given the unexpected amount of public visit registrations at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the Solar Impulse team pens an additional public visit day, this Wednesday, May 8^th. Register here to get your free tickets.

 By putting yourself on the eventbrite list you will also become part of the Solar Impulse community of pioneers, the best way to get the latest news about the project, including public visits and mission flight information directly in your inbox.

So hurry up and register!

We look forward to seeing you numerous!

For those of you that have already been to the Solar Impulse tent at Phoenix Sky Harbor, check out our Flickr page to find and download photos of you and your loved ones. Click here. 

The first leg of the 2013 Across America mission was concluded successfully. Bertrand Piccard did a wonderful job throughout the flight, bringing HB-SIA safely from San Francisco to Phoenix, and landing at 00:30 am MST (UTC-7) on Runway 08, Saturday May 4^th.

Bertrand had a chance to give numerous interviews to media all around the world before climbing to an altitude above 12,000 ft. where he was then obliged to wear an oxygen mask. Interestingly enough, more people were connected from Japan than the US, for a short while, prior to touchdown.

Ever thought of flying electric cars? Sure seems we’re not far from that. During the flight Bertrand heard an aircraft asking the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about Solar Impulse and why he had to remain at a distance. The ATC replied, “Just think of a flying electric car!” cracking Bertrand into a hearty laugh. HB-SIA was extremely well welcomed by all ATC along the way and the exchanges between Bertrand and his ATC interlocutors were very enjoyable. I can imagine how important these exchanges are especially during 20-hour long flights!

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. 

If you’ve been watching Solar Impulse TV during today’s flight, you maybe got a feel for the size of the team. Ground Crew and Logistics teams are in the US, ensuring that flights are carried out smoothly from takeoff to landing. The Marketing & Communications team and the Mission Control Center folks (who include meteorologists, Air Traffic Controllers and the Flight Director) are all in Payerne (Switzerland) guiding the pilot in the air with all sorts of programs and satellite connection devices. And there’s the multimedia team, split between two continents, Old and New, keeping us entertained and connected as the sleek silhouette of HB-SIA glides through the North American skies. But where are the engineers?

We’ve hidden them in a quiet place, where the skies are always grey and common distractions are scarce… in the suburbs of Zurich. We have to make sure they don’t escape, right? Jokes aside, the men and women that together have contributed to build HB-SIA are all extremely busy making a new airplane: Solar Impulse’s second generation solar-powered aircraft, HB-SIB. Indeed, if you thought the adventure was going to end with a graceful landing at New York’s JFK airport this summer, you were mistaken. The adventure will continue with the flight around the world scheduled for 2015.

The design phase of HB-SIB’s construction is complete and the Solar Impulse engineers are now busy testing parts in preparation for the assembly, scheduled for the end of 2013. Just a couple of weeks ago there was the Iron Bird – designed to test the electric wiring and overall electronics in a mock cockpit. Everything was setup as if it were the “real thing” with the hundreds of wires pulled through the full structure of the cockpit. Each part is initially tested separately, but in a complex electric system with different machines and a number of variables in play it is important to verify how everything interacts. The tests were successful. The four motors were running at 300 rpm at the same time as the other systems, such as the driver, the batteries and the balancers. A few other tests are still scheduled and, once everything is given a green light, it will be transposed as is to HB-SIB’s cockpit.

If you want to more about the Making Of HB-SIB, click here. 

After months of preparations, the moment we’ve all been waiting for passed in a heartbeat! In the midst of the Bay Area rush hour traffic, the graceful solar airplane silently lifted its wings soaring high above Moffett Airfield towards the rising sun.

Piloted by Bertrand Piccard, the 6:12 am PDT (UTC-7) take off marks the launching of 2013 Across America mission and with it, the kickoff of the “Clean Generation” initiative. Solar Impulse will cross the continental United States in 5 stopovers in hopes of raising awareness about the potential of clean technologies. Thousands of Solar Impulse Supporters are already taking part in this global movement of pioneers by having their names virtually carried across the country on a USB key. The final leg of the mission, connecting Washington D.C. to New York, will be piloted by the project’s co-founder André Borschberg.

It’s going to be an exciting summer as HB-SIA conquers new heights on its final adventure. In fact, HB-SIA was originally only built to prove that a solar aircraft can fly day and night on solar power. The prototype airplane exceeded expectations leading it to explore the European and African continents, and now North America; a great position to advocate for greater investment in sustainable energy sources.

 “Thanks to our friendship and partnership, we’ve come this far” said André to Bertrand before takeoff, “my dream is to have people understand the potential of these technologies and use them on the ground”. Looking up at the big bird against the sun, you can't help but believe that, someday, it will come true.

For those of you that live in or around Phoenix, we have some wonderful news! We were able to organize two days for public visits on Sunday May 5^th and Tuesday May 7^th between 1 pm and 7 pm. There will be 6 slots per day of one hour each. Given strict airport security regulations, please be aware that a maximum of 150 people are allowed per slot so hurry up and sign up today if you want to get a chance to see the solar airplane! Just register for the day and time most convenient to you (Sunday or Tuesday) and come to the airport with your printed ticket.  Parking is available.