Solar-powered plane makes first leg of 2013 Across America flight

Monday, 6 May 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Solar Impulse, the solar airplane of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, successfully launched the ‘Clean Generation’ initiative by completing the first leg of the 2013 Across America mission – the first crossing of the United States by a solar-powered airplane capable of flying day and night.

Pilot Bertrand Piccard took off from Moffett Airfield at NASA’s Ames Research Center (CA) at 06:12 AM PDT (UTC-7) and, after a 18 hours and 18 minutes flight from southern California, over the Mojave National Preserve and into Arizona, he landed the HB-SIA prototype at 00:30 AM MST (UTC-7) at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. This is the first of five legs that will lead the project’s co-founders, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, to alternately fly the solar airplane coast-to-coast from California to New York.

By crossing the United States André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard are launching the ‘Clean Generation’ initiative – a global awareness-raising movement advocating for greater investment in innovative technologies for sustainable energy production and use. Thousands of Supporters worldwide have joined the movement and their names will be virtually brought by the pilots across America by means of a USB key – and with every stopover more will be added.

“We’ve been dreaming about crossing the United States for years – the land of scientific research, innovation and aviation pioneers – and it’s hard to believe it’s really happening,” said André Borschberg (Co-Founder, CEO and pilot of Solar Impulse) and Bertrand Piccard (Initiator, Chairman and pilot of Solar Impulse) as they walked down the runway. “We are thrilled to have safely and successfully completed this first leg and we weren’t alone: thousands of names of our supporters virtually accompanied us. With them, we launched the “Clean Generation” initiative promoting clean technologies.”

A number of events will be organized during the Phoenix stopover including visits open to the public on Sunday 5 May and Tuesday 7 May. Because the solar airplane will be in a secured airport zone, the spaces available will be limited in accordance with airport security rules. People have to register in advance for Sunday 5th May through http://solarimpulseatphoenixonsunday.eventbrite.com/ and for Tuesday 7th May through http://solarimpulseatphoenixontuesday.eventbrite.com/

Mid June 2013: Fourth leg St. Louis/Lambert Airport – Washington DC/Dulles
Mid May 2013: Second leg Phoenix/Sky Harbor – Dallas/Fort Worth
The ‘Across America’ mission at a glance
Average altitude: 3’050 m (10’000 feet)
Average ground speed: 65,5 km/h (40,6 m/h)
Time of landing: 4 May 2013 00:30 AM MST (UTC-7)
Pilot: Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman
Flight report: San Francisco – Phoenix
Take-off time: 3 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT (UTC-7)
Flight duration:18h18 min
Highest altitude reached: 6’400 m (21’000feet)
Flight Distance: 1203 km (~650 NM)
3 May 2013: First leg San Francisco/Moffett Airfield – Phoenix/Sky Harbor
End May – Early June 2013: Third leg Dallas/Fort Worth – St. Louis/Lambert Airport
Early July 2013: Fifth and last leg Washington DC/Dulles – New York/JFK

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