around

the world with

no fuel
Solar Impulse was not built to carry
passengers, but to convey messages.
An adventure that shows change is possible.
The future can be written in renewable energy.
A challenge we can all take part in together.
the zero fuEL
airplane around
the world
A bold challenge and an incredible
adventure attempting the first solar
flight around the world and laying
down a benchmark for the future.

INSPIRING THE WORLD

POWERED BY THE SUN
 35,000 KM
25 FLIGHT DAYS
500 FLYING HOURS
OVER 5 MONTHS

exploration an EPI
to change Ci

the world

n
stag
es
A wild idea to fly an airplane
day and night, using no fuel,
only powered by the sun.
An inspiring journey to show
that it is possible to save
our planet by using clean
technologies.

Connecting pioneering d
ess an
Technology for progr y
it
and adventure sustainabil

A vision of the future and

a passion for innovation
AHistoric
Challenge
Pushing the boundaries of
knowledge and possibility,
going beyond the obvious.

SOLAR IMPULSE’S
AMBITION IS TO
DEMONSTRATE THE
IMPORTANCE OF
CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES a scientific adventure
FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT WHILE devoted to
WRITING THE NEXT
PAGES IN AVIATION
the environment !
HISTORY.
 Piccard
family tradition
For three generations, Auguste
this Swiss family of Piccard
inventors and pioneers

groundbreaking physicist
First man to see the
has been pushing back the curvature of the earth,
he paved the way for
boundaries of knowledge modern aviation.
and exploration. Invention of the
pressurized cabin
and the bathyscaphe,
submarine for
extrem depth.
First ascent into the
stratosphere in 1931
16,000 m (52,000 ft).

Bertrand
Piccard
Explorer with a
philosophical vision
seeking to promote
inspioneer

the pioneering spirit

and innovation.
First non-stop balloon
flight around the world.
Longest flight in distance
and duration in history
1931 1960 1999 of aviation 45,000 km
Exploration of Conquest First (27,900 mi) in 20 days.
the stratosphere of the ocean Round-the-World
depths balloon flight
Jacques
Piccard
The deepest man on
scientific ecologist

earth, pioneer of
scientific ecology,
dedicated to protecting
seas and lakes.
Construction of the
bathyscaphe, submarine
for extreme depth.
Record dive to the bottom
of the Mariana Trench
10,916 m (36,000 ft).
 LO P I LOT. . .
a revolutionary S O

airplane
The first airplane with
perpetual endurance able
to fly day and night without
any fuel.

...IN
Wi n

UN

AN
P RE IT
S s U R I Z E D COCK P
gs p
an
wid
er
tha
aJn
um
bo
Jet

Energy from
17,248 solar cells

Weight of a Power of
family car a small
motorcycle
 MAX CRUISING
ALTITUDE
8,500 M

A night bird
MAX AIR SPEED
90 KM/H

Solar Impulse is not the first solar

airplane, but it is the first to fly day
and night only using energy stored
during day flights in its batteries...

A MILESTONE IN THE
HISTORY OF AVIATION
AND A TECHNICAL FEAT :
SOLAR IMPULSE 2
AIRPLANE HAS A
VIRTUALLY UNLIMITTED
ENDURANCE, ALLOWING
IT TO CROSS OCEANS AND
THEREFORE ATTEMPT A
ROUND-THE-WORLD TOUR.

RECORD 117H FLIGHT OVER THE PACIFIC

THE FLYING

LABORATORY
What major civil and military aircraft
makers thought impossible has
been achieved by the ingenuity 4 brushless,
of the Solar Impulse team. sensorless motors
with exceptional
energy efficiency each
generating 13.5 kw Airframe made
(17.4 hp), fitted with of composite
a reduction gear, materials
limiting the rotation (carbon-fiber
An ultra-lightweight and incredibly speed of a 4 m
and honeycomb
strong structure, thanks to a diameter (13 ft),
sandwich).
revolutionary carbon-fiber two-bladed propeller
manufacturing process in which to 525 rev / min.
only the areas subject to high loads The entire system is
are reinforced. This innovation has 94 % efficient, a record
reduced the weight of some carbon rate, yielding
material layers by 75 %, yielding a a 6 % energy loss
significant reduction in the weight versus 70 % in normal
of each component. thermal motors !

Energy stored in lithium polymer batteries,

whose energy density is optimized to 260 wh/
17,248
kg. Batteries insulated by high-density foam
monocrystalline
and mounted in the four engine nacelles, with
silicon cells each
a system to control charging thresholds and
135 microns thick
temperature. Their total mass amounts to
like an human hair,
633 kg (1,395 lbs.), or just over a quarter of
providing the best
the aircraft’s weight.
compromise between
lightness, flexibility
and efficiency (23 %).

Upper wing
surface covered by
a skin consisting of
encapsulated solar
cells and the lower
wing surface by a
140 carbon-fiber strong, flexible
ribs spaced at skin.
50 cm (20 in.)
Isolation foam
intervals give
with very thin
the wing its
pores inside the
aerodynamic
cockpit to insulate
cross-section,
from extreme
and also maintain
temperatures
its rigidity.
during flight.
PILOTING A multi-purpose seat
functions both as
reclining berth and
toilet. A parachute

AND
and a life-raft are
packed into the seat-
back. When fully

SAFETY
reclined, it allows
the pilot to perform
physical exercises.

Self-hypnosis Intelligent nylon

and yoga fiber used in
Only meticulous techniques allow pilot’s clothing to
preparation can put minds the pilot to stabilize the body
maintain his temperature.
at ease before leaping powers of
into the unknown. concentration A man-machine
and vigilance. interface provides
the pilot with a
Oxygen mask sensory alert if
when flying above the bank angle
3,600 m (12,000 ft). goes beyond the
5° limit.

The 3.8 m3 (134 cubic ft) A monitoring

cockpit volume system constantly
provides enough space checks the
In the absence of Live satellite
on board for oxygen
any heating, the connection to the functioning of
supplies, food and
cockpit and the pilot ground ; transmission the autopilot
survival equipment,
are protected against of hundreds of data
whilst also meeting
and detects any
the cold outside to the mission room anomaly or
the ergonomic
(-40 degrees) by by telemetry, as well exceeding of
requirements for
high-density thermal as voice, pictures
flights lasting safe limits.
insulation. and films to allow
several days.
the public to be part
A flight simulator
of the adventure.
developed specifically
for Solar Impulse
gives the pilots the
opportunity to train
for long duration
missions and practice
the delicate handling
their aircraft
requires.
THE FLYING RESCUE
PAR ACH UT E

EXPLORER
The pilot in an unpressurized and
5 days
and 5 nights
unheated tiny cockpit, built for long
haul flights, will have to demonstrate in a row
outstanding endurance while facing
extreme conditions, and hardly
any sleep.

AUTO P I LOT

ALO 3.8 m 3 Cockpit

mu lti pu rpose

NE
seat

I
NT
HE

EXTREME
SKY

oxyg e n T EM PERATU RE

VIGILANCE e n e rgy

S ELF H Y P NOS IS M ED ITAT ION

i n flatable li fe r aft
 the Flying has always been Exploring

pilots
the great passion
the unknown
of my life... makes life more
exciting and useful.

Pioneers pair up for a ground-

breaking adventure. Two men,
both innovators and pilots, are
the driving force behind Solar
Impulse. Their very different
approaches complement each
other for greater creativity.

Bertrand André
Piccard Borschberg
A medical doctor, An engineer by
explorer and lecturer, education, a graduate of
achieved the first ever Massachusetts Institute
non-stop Round-the- of Technology and an
World balloon flight. entrepreneur, André
Initiator of Solar Borschberg has solid
Impulse, he brought experience in creating
together the partners and managing
to fund this project. companies, as well as in
Linking science with flying. His passion for
adventure to promote aviation and his interest
clean technologies, he in innovative solutions
develops the project’s have led him to manage
philosophy and outlines the project and head
its symbolic and the technical team.
political reach.
 P I LOT
FLIGHT
STRATEGIES
In permanent contact via satellite
20 specialists to monitor...

APC
OM ISSI
ON DIRECTO
R

M
C
with the airplane, the Mission
Control Center (MCC) anticipate
every possible scenario and
transmit information for the
optimal flight plan.
ON ENGINEE ematicians rologists ffic contro
ISSI ath eteo tra
M

m
RS

lle
air

rs
an inspiration
for our
generation
The Solar Impulse adventure
shows that change is possible.
Let’s invent the future.
Be part of the clean generation !

OUR ZERO FUEL

AIRPLANE CARRIES A
MESSAGE. WITH OUR
ROUND-THE-WORLD
FLIGHT, WE WANT TO
ORGANIZE THE BIGGEST
CALL TO ACTION EVER

UT
#F

IN FAVOR OF A CLEAN

U RE I
FUTURE. ARE WE CRAZY ?

F UT S c l e a n
LET’S SHOW TO WORLD
LEADERS HOW MANY
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT

U RE IS YOU  ! CLEAN TECH SOLUTIONS

AND JOIN THE MOVEMENT.

ADD YOUR VOICE

www.futureisclean.org
 #SI2 ENERGY
consumption
a symbol
in the sky
This airplane can fly forever
thanks to solar energy.
Let’s get this message off
the ground !

Help... I will be
stuck up here!

www.solarimpulse.com

An idea born in Switzerland