Phoenix To Dallas Route Is A World Record Attempt For Absolute Distance In A Solar-Powered Airplane

Solar Impulse, the solar-powered airplane of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, has departed from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport en route to  Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to complete the second leg of its historic, cross-country journey.

After a successful first leg on May 3, where Bertrand Piccard flew Solar Impulse from the San Francisco Bay Area to Phoenix, André Borschberg will attempt to set an absolute distance world record in solar aviation. The Phoenix-to-Dallas trip should be over 830 miles. The previous distance record already belongs to Solar Impulse when André flew 693 miles from Switzerland to Spain in May, 2012.

The third leg of the Across America journey, from Dallas to St-Louis, will be flown by Bertrand Piccard.

By achieving historical firsts and setting new records, Solar Impulse hopes to inspire everyone to be pioneers and change-makers to bring solutions for today’s challenges. Clean Generation, Solar Impulse’s latest initiative to create a global movement to promote the use of clean technology, is already rallying thousands of people to support the adoption of sustainable energy solutions. The names of those who join this movement are carried on a USB key kept in the cockpit and transported across America as virtual passengers.

Five custom-designed flags displaying the Clean Generation slogan are carried by the pilots and handed over to civic leaders at each stop. The flags are as a symbol of inspiration for citizens, CEOs and policymakers to adopt Solar Impulse’s pioneering, clean-energy spirit. In Phoenix, the Clean Generation flag was handed over to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who visited Solar Impulse at Phoenix Sky Harbor during a dinner organized by the Swiss consulate in Phoenix.

All those interested in being part of this movement can sign up online.

SOLAR IMPULSE PHOENIX – DALLAS/FORT WORTH ROUTE:

• 05:00 a.m. MST: Take-off from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport USA
• 06:00 a.m. MST: Heading east towards Roswell (NM) – ascending to an altitude of 14,000 ft
• 01:00 p.m. MST: Passing Roswell continues direction Abilene – cruising altitude 27,000 ft
• 02:30 p.m. CDT: Flying over Hobbs – border with Texas continues direction DFW
• 01:00 a.m. CDT: Estimated landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

The Solar Impulse Across America mission is made in partnership with Solvay, Schindler, Bayer Material Science, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, Sunpower and the Swiss Confederation.

(Images captured from live Solar Impulse webcast)

FMI: www.solarimpulse.com