Solar Impulse 2 (Si 2) returned safely to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, successfully completing its historic round-the-world flight without using a drop of fuel.
The first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe using only solar power, Solar Impulse 2 touched down at 04:05 to a rapturous reception at Al Bateen Executive Airport in the UAE capital, returning to the city where its historic adventure began.
Prince Albert II of Monaco; Doris Leuthard, Vice President of the Swiss Confederation; and Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and chairman of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company and official host partner of Si2, led the welcoming committee of international dignitaries and VIPs.
Si2 took to the skies for the last time when it departed Cairo at 03:28 Abu Dhabi time on July 24 with Swiss pilot Betrand Piccard, initiator and chairman of Solar Impulse, at the flight controls. Since leaving Abu Dhabi in March last year piloted by CEO and co-founder André Borschberg, the solar-powered aircraft has visited 16 cities across eight countries and four continents, with both Piccard and Borschberg taking turns at the controls, as part of efforts to gather global support for the adoption of solar energy and clean technologies.
Prince Albert II paid tribute to the ingenuity of the Solar Impulse 2 project in transforming awareness of the potential of clean energy, and the role of Abu Dhabi.
"It is a historic moment for Monaco and for me, because the principality has the pleasure of housing Solar Impulse's control center and my foundation is a partner of this adventure. We have shared so many hopes and so many joys together throughout this epic journey,” he said.
“Solar Impulse will mark our history. And we will remember this day, which will remain the day of great victory for solar aviation, and also the day when we were given the proof that we can move towards a low carbon economy, reconciling the mobility and progress we all need, with the protection of our planet, which is our greatest duty,” he said.
Leuthard said: “Courage, innovation and knowledge: for Switzerland, those three words will forever resonate with the year 2016. In fact, after celebrating the completion of the longest and deepest underpass in the world, the Gotthard tunnel, Solar Impulse 2 has proved to the world that by investing in education and sustainable energies, all our dreams can come true.”
Recognizing the UAE and Masdar for their contribution to the project, she said: “Today, an idea born in Switzerland has landed in the United Arab Emirates. We hope that tomorrow an idea born in the UAE will land in Switzerland. It is because we believe in this cooperation, as well as in innovation, that Switzerland was the first country to register its participation in Expo 2020 in the UAE city of Dubai.”
Dr. Al Jaber said Masdar’s leadership in delivering renewable energy projects across the world made it a natural partner of Solar Impulse 2, and Abu Dhabi the perfect location to begin and end its historic journey.
“We are pleased to welcome back Dr. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg after their outstanding success in circumnavigating the world using only the power of the sun. Their achievement is one that stands alongside those of the great pioneers of aviation. As a leader in developing innovative renewable energy projects and technologies, Masdar is committed to supporting ground-breaking initiatives that will inspire and deliver a more sustainable future,” he added.
Solar Impulse 2 began its epic journey from Abu Dhabi in March 2015, with stopovers in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, the United States, Spain and Egypt.
Over the course of its journey, the aircraft has set 19 world records, including the world's longest solar-powered flight in terms of both time (117 hours, 52 minutes) and distance (8,924 km). It completed more than 500 flight hours, cruising at altitudes of up to 9,000 meters at average speeds of between 45 km/h and 90 km/h.
