Swiss Solar-Powered Plane Lands in New York

(EPFL, July 08, 2013)

Solar Impulse's US trip, which began in California in early May, ended at New York's John F Kennedy airport. During the final leg of the trip, which began at Dulles airport in Washington, DC, the plane's left wing developed an eight-foot tear. Still, the trip was "a huge success for renewable energy," says one of the pilots, Andre Borschberg. "The only thing that failed was a piece of fabric." EPFL has been a scientific partner to Solar Impulse since the plane’s inception: The advice and technology provided by EPFL scientists has guided Solar Impulse throughout its adventure, and it has stimulated valuable research at EPFL. With Solar Impulse’s milestone flight “Across America” from California to New York, EPFL and Solar Impulse look ahead to a continuing collaboration in the future and an around-the-world flight in 2015.