First Airshow Appearance Made By Solar-Powered Aircraft

The organizers of the International Paris Air Show are said Monday the solar airplane Solar Impulse will make its first-ever airshow appearance at the Le Bourget event, and that the aircraft is scheduled to fly daily.

This will be the first air show appearance made by the revolutionary aeroplane, culmination of a genuine human and technological adventure, which made a historic 26-hour day and night flight without fuel, powered only by solar energy, in July 2010. Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg and their team were delighted to accept the invitation offered for the event by the Paris Air Show.

From June 20 to 26, visitors to the show will be able look closely at Solar Impulse on the ground, and each morning, so long as weather conditions are favorable, see the airplane fly powered only by its electric motors. With the participation of Solar Impulse, the Paris Air Show continues its tradition of presenting the most innovative prototypes, which have marked the history of the show for more than 100 years, thereby sharing its passion and dreams with visitors.

As a showcase for the boldest technological advances, organizers say the Paris Air Show is in perfect harmony with the culture which unites the Solar Impulse team in its human quest for innovation, its search for new technology, its desire to respect the environment and its motivation for sustainable development.

Given its 210-foot wingspan (as wide as an Airbus A340), light weight and extremely slow speed, organising flying displays by the Solar Impulse HB-SIA at the Paris Air Show is also a real aviation challenge, which will be faced jointly on a daily basis by teams from both the Show and Solar Impulse.

FMI: www.solarimpulse.com