After years of flight testing two versions of its solar-powered concept airplane, the Solar Impulse team is now well on its way to making the journey around the globe a reality. Si2 — the second version of the Solar Impulse — has been disassembled and loaded into the nose of a Cargolux Boeing 747 and is now on its way to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where it will depart on its pioneering round-the-world flight sometime in March.
“We have chosen this location as the best and most suitable departure point for the round-the-world tour, due to its climate, infrastructure and commitment to clean technologies,” said one of Solar Impulse’s founders, André Borschberg. Abu Dhabi-based energy company Masdar is one of the major sponsors of the project.
Once in Abu Dhabi, Si2 will be assembled and displayed at the World Future Energy Summit, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, January 17 through 22.
Borschberg and co-founder Bertrand Piccard will take turns flying the 22,000-mile journey, which is expected to span approximately 500 hours of flight time spread over five months. While the stops along the way have not been announced, the planned route takes the team from the Arabian Gulf across Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, southern Europe and, finally, back to Abu Dhabi.
The Solar Impulse is capable of flying day and night. The entire airplane is covered with solar panels and the energy generated by them is transferred to four small motors or stored in batteries for use during times when the sun is obscured.
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