10th anniversary of the start of Solar Impulse’s historic solar-powered round-the-world flight
FAI celebrates today the 10th anniversary of the start of Solar Impulse’s historic round-the-world flight, the first-ever circumnavigation powered solely by solar energy. On 9 March 2015, the pioneering aircraft took off on its record-breaking journey, proving the potential of renewable energy in aviation and setting multiple FAI world records. A decade later, its legacy continues to inspire innovation and sustainability in flight.
Swiss pioneers Dr. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg embarked on an ambitious journey from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, aboard Solar Impulse 2, a single-seater aircraft equipped with over 17,000 solar cells. Their mission: to fly around the globe without a drop of fuel.
Bertrand Piccard aboard Solar Impulse 2 - ©Solar Impulse
Over the course of 17 legs, Solar Impulse 2—alternately piloted by Piccard and Borschberg—covered more than 43,000 kilometres. The journey took them across Asia, the Pacific Ocean (including a layover in Hawaii), the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, and Europe, with a final stop in Cairo before returning to Abu Dhabi on 26 July 2016.
This extraordinary expedition not only demonstrated the potential of solar-powered aviation but also set multiple FAI world records, including:
- Duration in a Solar-Powered Aeroplane: André Borschberg piloted Solar Impulse 2 from Nagoya, Japan, to Kalaeloa, Hawaii, USA, from 28 June to 3 July 2015. This leg lasted a record 117 hours and 52 minutes (Free Distance along a course: 7,039.9 km) – still current - FAI record file
- Distance in an Electric Aeroplane: Bertrand Piccard covered 5,851.3 km from New York, USA, to Seville, Spain. He thus completed the first solar-powered flight across the Atlantic Ocean on 23 June 2016 – still current – FAI record file
- Altitude in an Electric Aeroplane: Bertrand Piccard reached the altitude of 9,232 m on 24 July 2016 during the last leg from Cairo, Egypt to Abu Dhabi, UAE – still current – FAI record file
The Solar Impulse mission has left an indelible mark on the aerospace community, inspiring ongoing research and development in sustainable aviation technologies.
©Solar Impulse/ Jean Revillard/Rezo.ch - San Francisco, USA, April 23th 2016. Solar Impulse 2 flying over the Golden Gate Bridge.
Top picture: ©Solar Impulse/ Jean Revillard/ Rezo.ch - Cairo, Egypt, July 13th 2016. Solar Impulse 2 flying over the Pyramids.
