The solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane

Thursday, July 8, 2010

The solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane

Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg flies over the Neuchatel lake in the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane after its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport July 8, 2010. The aircraft took off July 7 at 06:51 am and reached an altitude of 8,700 meters (28,543 feet) by the end of the day. It then slowly descent to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) and flew during the night on the batteries, charged during the day by 12,000 solar cells, which powered the four electric motors. It landed July 8 at 09.00 am (GMT+2) for a flight time of 26 hours and 9 minutes, setting the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane.

first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport

Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg flies over the Neuchatel lake in the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane after its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport July 8, 2010. The aircraft took off July 7 at 06:51 am and reached an altitude of 8,700 meters (28,543 feet) by the end of the day. It then slowly descent to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) and flew during the night on the batteries, charged during the day by 12,000 solar cells, which powered the four electric motors. It landed July 8 at 09.00 am (GMT+2) for a flight time of 26 hours and 9 minutes, setting the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane.

Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg flies in the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane during its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport July 8, 2010. The aircraft took off July 7 at 06:51 am and reached an altitude of 8,700 meters (28,543 feet) by the end of the day. It then slowly descent to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) and flew during the night on the batteries, charged during the day by 12,000 solar cells, which powered the four electric motors. It landed July 8 at 09.00 am (GMT+2) for a flight time of 26 hours and 9 minutes, setting the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane.

Solar Impulse Chief Executive Andre Borschberg (R) and President Bertrand Piccard celebrate after the first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport July 8, 2010. The aircraft took off July 7 at 06:51 am and reached an altitude of 8,700 meters (28,543 feet) by the end of the day. It then slowly descent to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) and flew during the night on the batteries, charged during the day by 12,000 solar cells, which powered the four electric motors. It landed July 8 at 09.00 am (GMT+2) for a flight time of 26 hours and 9 minutes, setting the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane.

Chief Executive Andre Borschberg and President Bertrand Piccard celebrate

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