Across America Mission: longest flight world record to be submitted to FAI for ratification

Friday, 24 May 2013 09:01

Solar Impulse land Dalals Rezo-Solar Impulse-Polaris sThe solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse, which departed on 22 May from Phoenix (Arizona), reached Dallas (Texas) yesterday morning, thus achieving a flight that might prove to be the longest flight (Straight distance, pre-declared waypoints) ever made with 1’541 km.

With this performance André Borschberg, who piloted the plane in the second of five legs of the Across America Mission, would supersede the record he himself established in 2012 (see below).

All the data from the loggers must be now be provided to the American National Aeronautics Association by the Solar Impulse team which has 7 days to send a preliminary record claim to the FAI. Observers from the FAI Amateur Built and Experimental Aircraft Commission (CIACA) were present in Dallas and at the Observation Centre in Payerne, Switzerland to collect the flight information. The Observers included CIACA President Alfons Hubmann.

Update (29.05.2013):

The FAI received the following preliminary record claims: 

Sub-ClassType of RecordPerformanceDateClaimantStatusId
CS Distance along a course, pre-declared waypoints - General 1487.6 km 2013-05-23 André Borschberg (SUI) preliminary record claim received 16816
CS Free Distance - General 1506.5 km 2013-05-23 André Borschberg (SUI) preliminary record claim received 16817
CS Straight distance, pre-declared waypoints - General 1386.5 km 2013-05-23 André Borschberg (SUI) preliminary record claim received 16815

Flight Report: Phoenix Sky Harbor – Dallas-Fort Worth

Pilot: André Borschberg, co-founder and CEO
Take-off time: May 22, 2013 04:47 AM MST (UTC-7)
Time of landing: May 23, 2013 01:08 AM CDT (UTC-5)
Flight duration: 18h21 min
Average ground speed: 84 km/h (45,3 kt)
Highest altitude reached: 8’230 m (27’000 feet)
Flight Distance: 1’541 km (832 NM)

Across America Mission

3 May 2013: First leg San Francisco/Moffett Airfield – Phoenix/Sky Harbor
22 May 2013: Second leg Phoenix/Sky Harbor – Dallas/Fort Worth
End May – Early June 2013: Third leg Dallas/Fort Worth – St. Louis/Lambert Airport
Mid June 2013: Fourth leg St. Louis/Lambert Airport – Washington DC/Dulles
Early July 2013: Fifth and last leg Washington DC/Dulles – New York/JFK

Fly with us in the cockpit

The Solar Impulse team has set up a programme called "Fly with us in the cockpit" to create an influential global movement to promote the use of clean technology. Anyone can have their name carried in the cockpit of the solar airplane flying across the United States and show their support for clean technology.

Solar Impulse world records

Sub-ClassType of RecordPerformanceDateClaimantStatusId
CS Absolute altitude 9235 m 2010-07-08 André Borschberg (SUI) ratified - current record 16042
CS Duration 26 h 10 m 19 s 2010-07-08 André Borschberg (SUI) ratified - current record 16044
CS Gain of height 8744 m 2010-07-08 André Borschberg (SUI) ratified - current record 16043
CS Straight distance, pre-declared waypoints 1099.3 km 2012-05-25 André Borschberg (SUI) ratified - current record 16558

Photo credit: Rezo | Solar Impulse | Polaris

The solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse, which departed yesterday 22 May from Phoenix, reached Dallas this morning, thus achieving a flight that might prove to be the longest flight ever made with 1’541 km.

With this performance André Borschberg, who piloted the plane in this 2nd leg of the Across America Mission, would supersede the record he himself established in 2012

All the data from the loggers must be now be provided by the Solar Impulse team to the National Aeronautics Association and then to the FAI for ratification. Observers from the FAI Amateur Built and Experimental Aircraft Commission (CIACA) were present in Dallas and at the Observation Centre in Payerne, Switzerland to collect the flight information. The Observers included CIACA President Alfons Hubmann.

“This leg was particularly challenging because of fairly strong winds at the landing. It also was the longest flight – in terms of distance - ever flown by a solar airplane. You have to understand that the pilot needs to stay awake for more than 20 hours without any autopilot” said André Borschberg, co-founder, CEO and pilot of Solar Impulse who still holds the record for the longest duration ever in a solar powered airplane with 26 hours.”

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