Solar Plane Flies Day and Night on Sun Power

July 8, 2010—André Borschberg pulled an all-nighter, and it’s one he’ll never forget. Borschberg, CEO and co-founder of the Solar Impulse project, landed the prototype HB-SIA today at the Payerne Air Base in Switzerland, after flying 26 hours—both day and night—using only solar energy. It became the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane, and was meant to demonstrate the potential of renewable energy and clean technologies. Helpers rushed to stabilize the single-seat airplane as it touched down, ensuring that its 207-foot wingspan—similar to a large commercial jet—didn’t touch the ground and topple it. “The deal is done, we’ve won, we’ve won!” wrote Lucas Chambers in the Solar Impulse blog. “HB-SIA and pilot André Borschberg are back from the night skies. It took a lot of persuading to keep the Solar Impulse staff, media people, and fascinated citizens from rushing the airplane here at the Payerne airfield. The plane is now being secured, and then let the good times roll, baby!” Throughout the day on July 7, the prototype HB-SIA slowly ascended to an altitude of about 28,000 feet, while at the same time charging its batteries in preparation for the night flight. When the sun’s rays stopped being strong enough to supply the solar cells with energy, the HB-SIA slowly glided down and used the energy stored in its batteries until sunrise the following morning. The airplane’s wings contain about 12,000 solar cells. “When you took off it was another era,” adventurer Bertrand Piccard, who co-founded the project, told The Telegraph. “You land in a new era where people understand that with renewable energy you can do impossible things.” “We achieved more than we wanted,” Borschberg said in a Washington Post story. “Everybody is extremely happy.” The flight brings the project one step closer to its goal of circling the globe using only solar energy.

The Solar Impulse HB-SIA completed the first day and night flight powered only by solar energy on July 7-8, 2010.. Photo credit: Solar Impulse / Stephanie Gros The Solar Impulse is powered, in part, by 12m000 solar cells. Photo credit: Solar Impulse Solar Impulse’s team chief Bertrand Piccard, left, and Solar Impulse’s CEO and pilot Andre Borschberg celebrate after landing the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane after its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport on Thursday, July 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Keystone, Dominic Favre, Pool)

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