Dübendorf, Germany. 2010.3.20 - In a fossil energy dependant world, the Solar Impulse project is developing an aircraft capable of autonomous takeoff and flight around the world, day and night, propelled (without fuel or pollution), by solar energy.
 

 
This ambitious project is being supported by the global brands Solvay, Omega and Deutsche Bank and thousands of supporters who are providing financial and promotional backing. Albert II of Monaco, Al Gore and Paolo Coelho are all supporters of the ground-breaking Solar Impulse project. Each of them is sponsoring a solar cell on the wing of the aircraft. And just like them, for a modest contribution, you too can participate in this unique adventure!
 
The driving force behind Solar Impulse is a pair of pilots, pioneers and innovators, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. Piccard, psychatrist and aeronaut, who made the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, is the initiator and chairman. Borschberg, an engineer and graduate in management science, a fighter pilot and a professional airplane and helicopter pilot, is the CEO.
 
These two men lead a multi-disciplinary team of more than 50 specialists from six countries, based in Dübendorf and Lausanne. This team, assisted by a hundred advisers, is working on the construction of the first prototype. The disciplines whih must be successfully synthesied include leading-edge construction techniques, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, project & systems management, computer simulation, composite materials, renewable energy, (photovoltaic cells to high-performance engine batteries), flight dynamics, mechanical engineering, air traffic control, PR and finance.
 
Construction of the first prototype, the HB-SIA, began in June 2007, with the objective of completing the first night flight in 2010. Another plane will then be developed to attempt to fly several 24-hour cycles consecutively, leading to the first trans-Atlantic flight from 2012, and then the round-the-world flight.
 
Solar Impulse HB-SIA takes off for the first time
 
At 13:11 on 3 December 2009, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA, (the first airplane designed to fly day and night without fuel), left the ground for the first time at Dübendorf Airfield, Germany.
 
Positive results of ground tests conducted in previous weeks had verified numerous parameters (the prototype’s controllability, acceleration, braking paths and engine power), enabled the team to give the go-ahead to Markus Scherdel, the test pilot, to take the prototype up to its take-off speed.
 
As the aircraft gently increased speed, the huge wing of the Solar Impulse rose into the air and flew approximately 350 metres at an altitude of one metre. "On the one hand I find it terrific to see a dream come true. For over ten years now, I have dreamt of a solar aircraft capable of flying day and night without fuel - and promoting renewable energy. Today, our plane took off and was airborne for the very first time. This is an unbelievable and unforgettable moment! On the other hand, I remain humble in the face of the difficult journey still to be accomplished – it’s a long way between these initial tests and a circumnavigation of the world”, commented Bertrand Piccard.
 
As first Main Partner, Solvay is supporting the project financially and with innovative and technological solutions, expertise, forecasting and simulatiion of materials behavior in extreme environments. Over 6 000 parts in the Solar Impulse contain Solvay materials from Solvay Advanced Polymers, Solvay Solexis and Solvay Fluor, especially Ultra high performance polymers.
 
Solvay is an international industrial Group active in chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and employs more than 19.000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion.
 
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