Solar Plane Team Sets Sights on U.S. Flight
Greeting a small group at the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C., pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg shared details about the next leg of travels for their solar-powered plane, the Solar Impulse. The pair, who were recently featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes, are laying the groundwork for their ultimate goal of completing the first solar-powered circumnavigation of the globe by plane in 2015.
The Solar Impulse project began several years ago with the goal of building a plane that was not dependent on liquid fuel. The team decided to build its own plane after being told by manufacturers they approached, “What you have in mind is impossible,” said Borschberg.
“The project was about building an aircraft,” said Borschberg of the solar