Solar Impulse
- By Richard Branson -
- Jun 06, 2013
Honoured to become a Patron of Solar Impulse, a solar powered plane project that is promoting the use of clean technologies and the spirit of adventure. Solar Impulse has already demonstrated that a solar-powered airplane can fly day and night without fuel and is currently on a coast-to-coast flight across the US.
I caught up with the team in the States and had an inside look at the plane. It was a great privilege stopping by and meeting Bertrand Piccard, who was a friendly adversary back when we were trying to become the first around the world in a balloon. He pipped us at the post in 1989 after we crashed into the Pacific 24 hours before completing our journey.
These earth-shattering, record-breaking attempts often lead to major technological breakthroughs that can benefit mankind. A good example of this is the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer that we flew non-stop around the world in 2006. We built it with 100% carbon fibre, out of frustration that Boeing and Airbus were still building planes using heavy metal. Directly out of that success, Airbus and Boeing changed tack. Yes it has had its teething problems, but the 787 – one of the lightest big planes ever built - will dramatically reduce the carbon output of the airline industry.
Whether Solar Impulse will ever result in any changes as radical as that, nobody knows. But without pioneering personal adventures and people trying new things, progress doesn’t happen and technology doesn’t move forwards.
After this year’s Across America Mission, the challenge for Solar Impulse will be to fly around the world in 2015. Good luck to the team with this wonderful project!
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
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