The Solar Impulse Prototype Plane HB SIA took off on its maiden flight at 10 am on Wednesday - Interwatches.com Blog

Thursday 08 April, 2010 - 14:00 PM EDT

The Solar Impulse Prototype Plane, HB-SIA, took off on its maiden flight at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

OMEGA, one of Solar Impulse’s Main Partners

(The Solar Impulse prototype plane, HB-SIA)



The Solar Impulse prototype, with its 63-metre wingspan and weighing only 1700 kg, was flown by test pilot Markus Scherdel. Solar Impulse, with its aim of circumnavigating the globe in a plane powered only by solar energy, could ultimately lead to finding ways to reduce our dependency on non-renewable energy sources.

OMEGA, as one of Solar Impulse’s Main Partners, has supplied capital and technological support, including the performance simulation and testing system, an ingenious, lightweight system of landing lights and the so-called OMEGA Instrument.

The OMEGA Instrument, that displays significant parameters so as to assist the pilot during landing, was invented by astronaut and Swatch Group Board Member Claude Nicollier, who played an active role in the project from its earliest stages, led the flight control team in the telemetry room during Solar Impulse’s maiden flight.

The aircraft successfully landed after its long-awaited maiden flight with a perfect landing at the airport in Payerne after about two hours in the air. The flight proved to be emotionally charged. Bertrand Piccard commented, “I had too many tears in my eyes to see the plane! It went so silently, so softly . . . I’m overwhelmed.”



Omega has been supporting the "Solar Impulse" Project since the very beginning, so, in order to pay tribute to this plane, the Omega watch was named after it. You will, for sure, notice the eye-catching orange “HB-SIA” inscription which suggests the name of the airplane - Hotel Bravo Solar Impulse Alpha. The bezel also features “Tachymeter Base 1000”in echoing orange. [ Click here to read the whole review ]




CHECK OUT!

Omega Speedmaster GMT Solar Impulse HB-SIA watch at Interwatches!

Source:

[ Omega's Official Website ]

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