Solar Impulse 2 Successfully Completes First Two Legs of its Mission

Pilots Piccard and Borschberg and Solar Impulse’s Emirati Team Member Present Gift to Local Representatives

Abu Dhabi – March 11, 2015: Solar Impulse 2, the first aircraft to attempt a solar-powered round-the-world flight, successfully crossed the Arabian Sea, Si2’s first overseas flight, landing in Ahmedabad, India on Tuesday evening at 21:55 after completing the second leg of its journey. The 16 hour 1,465 km record-breaking trek was piloted by Bertrand Piccard, initiator and chairman of Solar Impulse.

The aircraft took off from Muscat at 6.35 am, less than twelve hours after landing in Muscat, Oman. Co-founder and CEO Andre´ Borschberg landed Si2 at Muscat International Airport in Oman on Monday evening after completing the first 400km leg of its journey. The aircraft departed from its official host city, Abu Dhabi, on Monday at 6:12 am on route Oman.

The 13 hour and two minute journey to Muscat and the 16 hour flight to Ahmedabad mark the completion of the first two legs of Solar Impulse’s five-month 35,000km mission.

Upon arrival in Oman, Solar Impulse was greeted by His Highness Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Al-Said and the team attended a welcome reception at Muscat International Airport. In Ahmedabad, the team was greeted by Mr. L. Chuango, Principal Secretary to the Government of Gujarat for Energy and Petrochemicals.

Pilots and co-founders Bertrand Piccard, Andre´ Borschberg, and Solar Impulse’s Emirati team member Hasan Al Redaini presented His Highness in Oman and Mr. L. Chuango in Ahmedabad respectively with an ecofriendly zinc dhow on behalf of Masdar, Solar Impulse’s official host partner and Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company. The dhow, used over time to explore new horizons, spread messages, and foster connections globally, symbolizes the UAE’s historical commitment to sustainable transport. The gift resonates with Masdar and Solar Impulse’s shared vision to push the boundaries of exploration, spread the message of a cleaner future, and unite all to create a more sustainable tomorrow.

While Solar Impulse is an ambitious scientific adventure, the visionary journey is also an airborne message for advancement of clean technology and environmental stewardship. Supported by Masdar and UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the #FutureIsClean initiative has been launched on www.FutureIsClean.org to mobilize individuals, organizations, celebrities and politicians to demand concrete action ahead of the Conference on Climate Change of the United Nations (COP21), which will define the new Kyoto protocol in December 2015 in Paris. The prizes for the platform’s challenge are sponsored by Masdar.

In the coming week, Solar Impulse will continue its adventure in India and travel to Varanasi for the third leg of its attempt to circumnavigate the world using only the power of the sun. Solar Impulse will then fly to Mandalay, Myanmar; and Chongqing and Nanjing, China prior to crossing the Pacific Ocean via Hawaii. Si2 will then fly across the Continental U.S.A. stopping in three locations – Phoenix, and New York City at JFK. A location in the Midwest will be decided dependent on weather conditions. After crossing the Atlantic, the final legs include a stop-over in Southern Europe or North Africa before arriving back in its host city, Abu Dhabi.