Solar Impulse Flies Into Aviation History

July 6th, 2013 by Amber Archangel

The most famous solar airplane in the world, Solar Impulse, is making its last US flight. It is departing from Washington DC en route to New York City. André Borschberg, Co-Founder and CEO, is piloting the sun-powered craft and is expected to take off at 4:45 EDT (UTC-4). The landing is expected to be on July 7th 02:00 AM EDT (UTC-4). More from the Solar Impulse team follows. A live stream of the flight can be viewed below.

This historic flight can be followed live on the website solarimpulse.com with a virtual cockpit and a live chat.

A number of activities are being organized during this incredible last leg of this epic crossing, so don’t miss your chance to be part of the adventure!

Live streaming of the entire flight from the pre-flight preparations of the pilots to the triumphant landing directly on solarimpulse.com. There are regular interviews of members of the team including the pilots, André from the cockpit and the Bertrand from the ground. Also, highlights of past events, flights, and important moments of the mission are retransmitted for the duration of the flight.

Data from the airplane: Follow the flight with real data from the airplane with the virtual cockpit and check the route on the map.

Google Hangout In Air with Solar Impulse pilots moderated by Jason Paur (from Wired Magazine) and featuring special guests including James Cameron, world-renowned film director and Solar Impulse Patron, Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of Charles Lindbergh, and American jazz pianist ELEW. The Hangout will be live-streamed here during the flight at 3pm EDT (UTC-4).

Spot the plane: As Solar Impulse flies over New York City; everyone is encouraged to spot the plane from the ground: you can check the real-time location of the plane on our website and from your mobile devices.

Landing: There are a number of locations where to spot the plane at JFK, click here for more information.

To commemorate 70th anniversary of the publication of The Little Prince in New York (1943) – a story intimately linked to the history of aviation — the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation has given André and Bertrand a yellow scarf and special Antoine de Saint-Exupéry badge to wear during the flight. The original copy of the book is located at the Morgan Library and Museum on Madison Ave.

Google live broadcast link: Google.com will have a link on its homepage directing viewers to a dedicated Google page including information about Solar Impulse’s last mission flight and project, and links to the Solar Impulse live broadcast and YouTube channel.

Public Day: The Solar Impulse team will be opening its doors to the public at JFK International Airport on Saturday July 13th from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM and on Sunday July 14thfrom 11 AM to 7:30 PM. Click here to register for the Saturday visit and here for the Sunday visit.

Solar Impulse Washington Dulles International Airport – New York John F. Kennedy International Airport route (please note timings are subject to change):

Saturday, July 6 at 5 a.m. EDT (11 a.m. Swiss Time): Estimated take-off from Washington Dulles International Airport (D.C.)

(11 a.m. Swiss Time): Estimated take-off from Washington Dulles International Airport (D.C.) 6:45 a.m. EDT (12:45 p.m. Swiss Time): Crossing the Chesapeake Bay south east direction Cambridge, State of Maryland – cruising altitude 8’000 ft

(12:45 p.m. Swiss Time): Crossing the Chesapeake Bay south east direction Cambridge, State of Maryland – cruising altitude 8’000 ft 8 a.m. EDT (2 p.m. Swiss Time): Flying across the Delaware Bay between Lewes and Cape May in the State of New Jersey – following the Atlantic Coast towards Atlantic City

(2 p.m. Swiss Time): Flying across the Delaware Bay between Lewes and Cape May in the State of New Jersey – following the Atlantic Coast towards Atlantic City 9:15 a.m. EDT (3:15 p.m. Swiss Time): Flying in proximity of Atlantic City and proceeding 11 miles over the Atlantic offshore, south east of Toms River for a long holding until 9 p.m. EDT

(3:15 p.m. Swiss Time): Flying in proximity of Atlantic City and proceeding 11 miles over the Atlantic offshore, south east of Toms River for a long holding until 9 p.m. EDT 11:40 p.m. EDT (5:40 a.m. Swiss Time): Entering the Lower Bay – Cruising altitude 1’500 ft

(5:40 a.m. Swiss Time): Entering the Lower Bay – Cruising altitude 1’500 ft Sunday, July 7 at 12:00 a.m. EDT (6 a.m. Swiss Time): Flying over the Verrazano Bridge towards the Statue of Liberty and flying over the Upper Bay until about 1:15 a.m. EDT

(6 a.m. Swiss Time): Flying over the Verrazano Bridge towards the Statue of Liberty and flying over the Upper Bay until about 1:15 a.m. EDT 2 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. Swiss Time): Estimated landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport

Solar Impulse in New York

During its stay in New York, Solar Impulse will have a dense program of events including a news conference on Monday, July 8 at noon at JFK, participation in the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ceremony and a meeting at the UN with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday, July 9.

Author’s Notes: It’s been a pleasure to be part of the Across America 2013 mission with Solar Impulse. It will be remarkable to follow the plane again in 2015 when the pilots and team circumnavigate the globe.









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