Solar Impulse Solar Impulse at a Glance

Alfred N. Schindler (left), André Borschberg (cockpit) and Bertrand Piccard (right)		Solar Impulse is the brainchild of Swiss aviators, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. Together they have pioneered the first-ever airplane capable of flying day and night, using only solar energy, demonstrating the enormous potential of renewable energy. Seven years of intense hard work, calculations, simulations and tests by a 70-person team and 80 partners have gone into completing this totally new carbon fibre aircraft. In the words of Alfred N. Schindler, Chairman of the Schindler Group: "Solar Impulse is an excellent example of innovative sustainability and grass-root entrepreneurship. It is not only about saving and conserving energy, it's all about working smarter instead of working harder. While staying in the air – day after day – Solar Impulse moves us beyond the idea of conventional belt tightening: it proves convincingly that one can tap into a virtually unlimited supply of solar energy. Solar Impulse is a unique platform where creativity meets audacity, technological expertise meets perseverance, vision meets discipline and, finally, where action converts a dream into reality."

Project milestones