Solar Impulse to fly US coast-to-coast in 2013

[sn26567]

The Solar Impulse team is preparing a possible 2013 adventure and working hard to make a coast-to-coast flight connecting California to New York City via Washington D.C. a reality. The actual trip is not yet confirmed as many factors need to be aligned to make it possible, but they’re on the right track.

In the land of aviation pioneers, from the Wright brothers to Charles Lindbergh, it seemed only evident that André and Bertrand should follow the path of these historic explorers and cross the continental United States.

http://www.solarimpulse.com/timeline/view/6750

[galaxy]

Is it the intention to dismantle the Solar Impulse and transport it to the US?
Or will it be with the Solar impulse 002 ?
It seems to be a delicate and expensive ambition, but all good wishes to the pioneers André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard.

[sn26567]

The Solar Impulse has been dismantled before being loaded on a Cargolux 747 to be transported to California. The picture show the Cargolux aircraft presently at Payerne military airport:

[Desert Rat]

Kind of strange to fly an entire 747 to the US, just to transport a "solar/green" aircraft.
What's the CO2 imprint of the solar impulse now?
They should have fly it over there against some tough headwind...that would have made a point. ......

[sn26567]

They should have fly it over there against some tough headwind...that would have made a point. ......

You know from the previous flight in Morocco that against a strong headwind the Solar Impulse flies backwards...

Loading of the Solar Impulse on the Cargolux freighter:

[Desert Rat]

Let's point it to the west and fly backward toward the east over asia and pacific to reach California. ..that would be fun....but slow though......

[jan_olieslagers]

Agreed! What they are doing now is a fine public demonstration of what (they think) the craft can NOT do (reliably enough). A pity for this very nice project, which really ought to be among Europe's technology flagships. Far better to circumnavigate the other way round, by way of Russia and Alaska.

[teddybAIR]

I think the primary goal of the Solar Impulse is to stimulate the momentum when it comes to pushing the boundaries of environmental friendliness of the aviation industry. It tests unmature technology while creating awareness and motivation across the industry to invest in fuel saving and durable technologies in aviation (eg: the shark paint that will be tested by LH).

[sn26567]

Nice slideshow about the loading (in Payerne) and unloading (in nSan Francisco) of the Solar Impulse on the Cargolux 747: http://www.solarimpulse.com/timeline/view/6805

[Tomskii]

I think the primary goal of the Solar Impulse is to stimulate the momentum when it comes to pushing the boundaries of environmental friendliness of the aviation industry. It tests unmature technology while creating awareness and motivation across the industry to invest in fuel saving and durable technologies in aviation (eg: the shark paint that will be tested by LH).

Exactly,

Jan like this dutch saying goes: "je slaagt de bal helemaal mis op dat vlak".

Of course the plane can't fly against tough headwinds since it is made of carbonfiber and the interior parts are mostly isolated by just isomo blocks.

[jan_olieslagers]

hmmmpppffff

If planes made (mostly) of carbon fibre, with perhaps some polysterene in between (either extruded or expanded) can hardly fly against the wind, how then about the A350, B787, and more other such contraptions? Or what exactly were you meaning to say?

As regards Dutch grammar, it is either "je/jij slaat" or "gij/ge slaagt", or so I was taught at school. But that's a long time ago, admittedly, perhaps they changed it since. Can't see any good reason, though.

[Tomskii]

hmmmpppffff

If planes made (mostly) of carbon fibre, with perhaps some polysterene in between (either extruded or expanded) can hardly fly against the wind, how then about the A350, B787, and more other such contraptions? Or what exactly were you meaning to say?

As regards Dutch grammar, it is either "je/jij slaat" or "gij/ge slaagt", or so I was taught at school. But that's a long time ago, admittedly, perhaps they changed it since. Can't see any good reason, though.

Because the solar impulse does not have the thrust of an A350 or B787..

And yes you're right it is 'je slaat'. Not that it would make much of a difference.

[YYZ727]

hmmmpppffff

As regards Dutch grammar, it is either "je/jij slaat" or "gij/ge slaagt", or so I was taught at school. But that's a long time ago, admittedly, perhaps they changed it since. Can't see any good reason, though.

jij slaat = you hit something/someone

gij slaagt = you succeed in doing something

'slaat' comes form 'slaan', slaagt comes from 'slagen', two different verbs with a different meaning..... Thus, 'jij/gij slaat' can be used here, not 'gij slaagt'

[jan_olieslagers]

Well, as for the grammatical issue, you may wonder whre "geslagen" then comes from... Perhaps someone could explain to you that current "slaan" is en evolution of "slagen", which had double meaning in earlier days. "geslagen" and "gij slaagt" still refer to this archaic form.

But I think we had better remain on topic: I am still curious for an explanation of Tomskii's saying <quote>the plane can't fly against tough headwinds since it is made of carbonfiber</quote>

[sn26567]

A time-lapse video of the reassembly in Moffett:

[sn26567]

The Solar Impulse technical flights in the U.S. have begun!

There will be at least 4 technical flights over the coming weeks. These flights are designed to check the aircraft’s maneuverability and responsiveness in preparation for this spring’s Across America mission – which will kick off starting May 1st. They are necessary to ensure proper functioning and overall safety of HB-SIA which has undergone full disassembly and reassembly in March for transport from Switzerland to the United States.

The first one took place Tuesday April 2nd and it was a success: HB-SIA demonstrated its usual behaviour.

[sn26567]

A nightly take-off of HB-SIA for the second technical flight this morning:



Follow it live: http://www.solarimpulse.com/

[sn26567]

Stunning picture of the Solar Impulse over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during its 4th technical flight:

[sn26567]

Final itinerary revealed - Possible kick-off on 3 May

Solar Impulse’s 2013 Across America itinerary is now official:

Moffett Airfield (Mountain View, CA)
Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix, AZ)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas, TX)
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (St. Louis, MO)
Dulles International Airport (Washington D.C.)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City)

It looks like the next possible date for the kick-off of the 2013 Across America mission could be this Friday, May 3rd. Weather conditions permitting, the flight would take off from Moffett Airfield to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix (AZ). It will be an early departure, most likely before 6 am local time (UTC-7) with a landing after midnight local Phoenix time (UTC-7).

Source: http://www.solarimpulse.com/

[sn26567]

The Solar Impulse has successfully completed the first leg of its trip across America, from Moffett on the Pacific Coast of California near San Francisco (with an early morning departure on May 3rd) to Phoenix in Arizona, where it landed in the middle of the night (00:30 am MST (UTC-7) on Runway 08, Saturday May 4th).

Bertrand Piccard was the pilot.

Pics, videos and report: http://www.solarimpulse.com/en/across-america/