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# Posted: 14 May 11 16:36 - Edited by: ortho158
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The Solar Impulse is an experimental aircraft powered exclusively by solar cells. It has a wing span of 63.40m, and weighs 1600 kg. It made yesterday (May 13, 2011) its first international flight. It left Switzerland at 8.40 am, and landed at Brussels airport 13 hours later.
As I am not leaving very far, I wanted to witness that historical performance. But it was a game of hide&seek as we didn't know exactly on which landing strip it would arrive. I left home, leaving my wife follow the landing on their website. I picked what I thought was the most probable place, and had a first glimpse of the aircraft (at 20:49), but very far away .
Behind it, you see an accompanying helicopter.
Then it moved, and disappeared. With directions from my wife, I went to another place and found it right above me (21:17).
It disappeared again, and I went back to my original place. In the meantime, my wife recognized the place where it was going (the descent was filmed by the helicopter): it was going to pass in front of our house. She picked her camera ... (21:29)
It finally made its final descent, behind the nearby village (Steenokerzeel).
(21:37)
(21:40)
(21:41)
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# Posted: 14 May 11 17:38
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interesting report, and i really like a couple of those photos. thank you for this, seems like it wouldve been been quite hard to track an unknown flight pattern!
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# Posted: 14 May 11 19:30
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i missed the start.... 
did heared about it when it was allready started
nice report. thank you!
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# Posted: 14 May 11 20:01
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very nice report, thanks for sharing.
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# Posted: 14 May 11 22:43
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Thanks for sharing these nice pics and the story. A plane with a very unusual design, for the time beeing still a kind of UFO ...
But the main point of this experience is here, in the demonstration and the perspective of developping environmentally friendly technologies.
I found that on solarimpulse.com:
Arnaud Feist, the CEO of Brussels Airport Company, was very enthusiastic about welcoming the airplane onto the tarmac of Brussels Airport. « This airplane, the first to function without fossil fuel and without emitting CO2, symbolizes the great efforts the aeronautical industry is making to develop new technologies for energy saving and increased use of renewable energies. The European airport sector is also very active in developing its activities in a responsible and durable manner. Given Brussels Airport’s own ambition to continue reducing our CO2 emissions, we attach particular importance to solar energy generation projects. Therefore, we are delighted that Solar Impulse selected Brussels Airport as its first international destination. »
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# Posted: 14 May 11 22:56
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It is interesting to note that the conception of the Solar Impulse is due to Bertrand Piccard, who realized tthe first balloon trip around the world in the Bretiling Orbiter 3.
His father, Jacques, holds the world record for deep diving (-10916m, in the Mariana Trench). And his grandfather, Auguste, reached 16940m in a stratospheric balloon.
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# Posted: 15 May 11 14:41
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A very interesting report Ortho, what a luck you saw it right near your home.
I saw it on TV but to see it real is great.
The last shots with the lights on of the plane and helicopter are very good.
With thanks to you wife and your report, Dieuwertje.
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# Posted: 15 May 11 18:52
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eyewitness of an historical event; that's something to remember the rest of your life; a nice report in photo's; number 3 is super!
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