The Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) has concluded the fourteenth and final leg of its high-profile crossing of North America with a stunning flyover of the famed Stature of Liberty last Saturday.
With Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard in the cockpit, Si2 departed Dayton International Airport (KDAY/DAY) for Leg 13 on May 25 and flew to Lehigh Valley International Airport (KABE/ABE), near Allentown, Pennsylvania. After a 16-hour, 49-minute flight, the aircraft landed shortly before 21:00 EDT local time, and Piccard had dedicated the flight to the project engineers who had worked tirelessly on all the calculations and details required to ensure a safe and successful mission.
The departure had been scheduled for the day before, but an unexpected mishap with the electricity powering the aircraft’s portable, inflatable hanger caused a delay. The crew had to carefully inspect the lightweight carbon-fiber fuselage to ensure that it had not sustained damage from the weight of the partially deflated fabric. The experimental, Swiss-made plane was met at Lehigh Valley by its 75-strong ground crew, with some members riding alongside on electric bicycles to help slow the aircraft and support the giant wings on the tarmac. More than 100 fans were present to commemorate the occasion. The extended team includes another 75 support members at the Monaco Mission Control Center.
On Saturday, May 28, roughly 3,800 enthusiasts gathered at the airport, tickets in hand, to see the aircraft, up close and personal. Each spectator was limited to a 20-minute visit with the aircraft. Piccard told The Morning Call, the daily newspaper out of Allentown: “In addition to the message of clean technology, we speak a lot about adventure and exploration. Embrace the unknown. People are living this adventure with us. They understand they can be explorers in life, also. They can also push the limits.”
After a weather delay in eastern Pennsylvania due to thunderstorms, Andre Borschberg left Lehigh Valley for New York City late at night and landed about five hours later (03:59 EDT) on Saturday, June 11 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK/JFK). About 100 supporters, airport workers, and reporters were at JFK to greet the aircraft and pilot. Prior to this landing, however, Borschberg executed a stunning and dramatic overflight of one of America’s most cherished symbols of freedom – the Statue of Liberty, on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
The flyover was symbolic for Borschberg and the Si2 crew and seemed like a fitting way to say thanks for all the warm wishes and friendly receptions they had received over the past six weeks in the U.S. Borschberg remarked: “The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of American values: the liberty to be a pioneer, the freedom to explore and invent. It welcomes travelers who arrive in this country, and flying over it was a tribute we paid for the special welcome we received at each destination.”
The pending eastbound departure from JFK will also hold symbolism for the team, as it will conjure memories of Charles Lindbergh’s maiden trans-Atlantic flight from Roosevelt Field, located near present-day JFK airport, to Le Bourget Airport (LFPB/LBG) in neighboring communes of Paris, France and home of the world-renowned Paris Air Show. The Si2 team has not announced a kick-off date yet for the Atlantic crossing but anticipates that it will be among the most challenging legs yet for the aircraft and Pilot Piccard.
So far, Si2 has traveled 18,540 miles (29,837 km) and has several legs remaining. If all goes according to plan, Si2 will return to Abu Dhabi, UAE in July or August. And with any luck, the 150-million-dollar mission will experience the near-perfect weather conditions needed for the remainder of the trip.
To keep track of the Atlantic crossing and the remaining legs through Europe and the Middle East, visit www.solarimpulse.com for frequent updates.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport serves the city of Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province. Here's all you need to know. City: Chengdu Country: China ICAO: ZUUU IATA: CTU Elevation: 1681' Latitude/longitude: N30° 34.8' E103° 56.9' Time zone: UTC +8 Mag…
The lively and vibrant Canadian city of Montreal is a popular summertime destination for those touring North America. Said to be Canada’s cultural capital, the most populated city in Quebec is home to some stunning classical and modern architecture and…
Jet A1 Shortage in Nairobi and Mombasa: Operators are being notified of an impending Jet A1 shortage at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (HKJK) in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa (HKMO). The Airport Operators Committee (AOC) advised that due…
Fred Kiige | - 03/05/2019
Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
Contact UAS China Team
Become a UAS Fuel Partner today!
Want to become a UAS Fuel Partner? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
