NEW ATTEMPT FOR SOLAR IMPULSE TO FLY TO PARIS: TUESDAY 14 JUNE 2011
Lausanne, 13 June 2011 – After an unsuccessful attempt to reach Paris on 11 June, the solar airplane of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will try to make the most of a narrow weather window between two rain fronts, by taking off from Brussels on Tuesday 14 June at around 05h20 in the morning, with a landing planned at Le Bourget for 21h00 (local times).
Because of the intensity of regular air traffic and the likelihood of turbulence during the day due to thermal activity, Solar Impulse has been authorized to take off from Brussels at about 05h20 on Runway 25 R and to land at Paris-Le Bourget not before 21h00 (UTC + 2). So although the distance as the crow flies is relatively short (300 km), the mission should last about 15 hours, flying at an average altitude of 2500 meters, via Valenciennes and Reims. The flight between two bad weather fronts will be difficult to execute, and the mission team will assist the pilot, André Borschberg, from the « Mission Control Center » in Payerne (CH).
There is not much time left now to prepare the aircraft for the International Paris Air Show and the Solar Impulse team cannot afford to have another setback. The current weather conditions on the ground allowed for the batteries to be recharged by sunlight to 60%. Exceptionally, the decision was taken to complete the full charge with electrical power. Hence no record clam will be made this flight. The prototype will take off with batteries fully charged, so that it will not be penalized, as was the case last Saturday, by cloud cover and headwinds.
Schedule (UTC +2):
05:20 approximately Take-off from Brussels Airport to Paris-Le Bourget
21:00 approximately Land at Paris-Le Bourget
22:00 approximately Briefing in front of the plane with Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg
Although this flight has been confirmed, the Flight Director may still decide to delay the take-off or postpone the flight. Please check the latest information tomorrow morning atwww.solarimpulse.com.
Track the European Solar Flights on the Internet and via the Solar Impulse app During the European solar flight campaign, each flight can be followed live on www.solarimpulse.comand via the Smartphone app “Solar Impulse Inventing the Future”, available free on Appstore and Androïd Market. The airplane’s position, altitude and speed will be shown live and cameras fitted inside the cockpit and in the “Mission Control Center”, the mission’s nerve center, will allow you to experience the adventure live.