ABU DHABI // The Solar Impulse team on Sunday began final preparations for its first attempt to circle the Earth with an exclusively solar-powered plane.
Take-off from Al Bateen Executive Airport on the first leg of a 12-part voyage is scheduled for dawn on Monday.
Following more than a decade of engineering, hurdles and hardship, the pilots, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, said emotions were running high.
“They are part of this project, especially today as it’s take-off day minus 1,” Mr Borschberg said. “In some ways its very hard to believe. Though we met 12 years ago, today we may have a few more wrinkles, but these 12 years have been extremely special, realising the dream of my childhood.”
It was not until last week that they decided who would be first in the pilot’s seat for the five-month journey.
Mr Piccard said: “I think its absolutely natural for Andre to start the flight.”
Mr Borschberg said Mr Piccard “had this vision and initiated this project, so for me also it is obvious that it would be great that he should finish the last leg and complete what he has been dreaming about”.
As such, Mr Borschberg will pilot the take-off, and Mr Piccard will land the plane in the capital for its triumphant return.
To better involve fans of the venture, the team has launched an interactive website, www.solarimpulse.com that will have information on every leg of the journey.
Registered users who introduce other fans to the website will receive “solar impulse miles” that can be redeemed for prizes and apparel.
The two users with the most miles will win a flight to Abu Dhabi, offered by Masdar as a grand prize, to witness the plane’s return.
“The vision of the project is to link all these countries to share the same concern to develop the same energy use and protecting our resources and to care about the future of the environment,” Mr Borschberg said.
He also expressed relief that the launch will mean the end to phone calls about technical hitches.
The pilots thanked their partners, many of whom have developed technologies that will have real-world applications.
“Masdar and Abu Dhabi are proud to host this departure, and hopefully the safe arrival of Solar Impulse 2 and its pilots as a daring attempt to fly around the world without a drop of fossil fuel,” said Dr Ahmad Belhoul, chief executive of Masdar.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
