We would give anything to be in Rabat as the world’s first solar-powered transcontinental flight comes to an end at roughly 11pm local time. Despite the relatively late hour (chosen to avoid dense air traffic), delegates from the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) and others will be at the airport to congratulate pilot Bertrand Piccard on completing this historic milestone.
André Borschberg flew for the first half of the Solar Impulse’s 2,500 km journey, from Switzerland to Spain, which proved that it is possible to fly a plane night and day without a drop of fuel, but Piccard will cross the Mediterranean Sea – the first time a solar-powered airplane has completed such a feat.
Heavy wind early Tuesday morning (local time in Madrid) came close to derailing the plane’s schedule. “It wouldn’t have been the first time, but the fear of deceiving the Moroccans was a thought filling our minds,” André reported from the ground.
“It was decided that the preparations should proceed as planned with the belief that the conditions would improve in the midst of it all. Thankfully, the weather granted our wish and changed course, opening the necessary window for take-off.”
“It is the first time that I experience all this from ground instead of the sky,” said André “and I must admit I’m pleased to live the flight from this perspective. It’s extraordinary to feel the excitement and emotions with the team from the ground; it gives a human feel to the mission.”
Once the pilots have visited the construction site of Morocco’s first solar-thermal plant in Ouarzazate and their trip to Morocco is complete, they will begin to prepare for the next step of their remarkable journey: to fly around the world relying only on the sun for power.
image via Jean Revillard/Rezo.ch (taken from the Solar Impulse Facebook page)
More Solar Impulse News:
World’s Longest Solar-Powered Flight Will Land in Morocco
Track the Sun-Powered Solar Impulse Flight to Spain and Morocco
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
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