The Sun Shines and the Omega Solar Impulse Flies!

OMEGA-sponsored Solar Impulse officially makes its maiden flight…

OMEGA announced yesterday:

On a perfect spring day with a clear blue sky over the Swiss town of Payerne and a dramatic Alpine panorama in the distance, the Solar Impulse prototype plane, HB-SIA, took off on its maiden flight at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.  Solar Impulse founders and co-pilots André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard followed the plane in helicopters throughout its two-hour flight. Borschberg reflected the feelings of the entire team when he said, “After almost seven years of work this is an unbelievable moment for all of us. We were fully concentrated but we were also able to enjoy this remarkable success.”  The Solar Impulse prototype, with its 63-metre wingspan and weighing only 1700 kg, was flown by test pilot Markus Scherdel.

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.”

A beautiful and impressive aircraft, isn’t it?  When I consider that it is solar-powered I am even more impressed!  As you can see in the pictures, OMEGA is one of Solar Impulse’s Main Partners, and has supplied capital, technological and other support.  Of course what would such an arrangement be without a special wriswatch?  Let’s take a closer look at the Omega Solar Impulse aka the Omega Speedmaster HB-SIA Co-Axial GMT Chronograph Ref # 321.90.44.52.01.001:

Titanium case (44.25mm), black carbon fiber dial, Omega Caliber 3603 (COSC)

You may remember our friends at Hodinkee profiled this watch a year ago this month; if not, check out their article now!   Like Hodinkee, I had the opportunity to take a closer look at this watch in the awesome Omega Boutique in New York, and I can attest to its “coolness”.  As you might expect the watch is very light given its titanium case and the carbon fiber dial is a nice touch.  The caseback is also pretty cool:

Price in the boutique is $8,600 if my memory serves me right — but if you shop a bit you should be able to acquire this watch for around $6,000.

As for the Solar Impulse and its ultimate goal? Well, its team dreams that their work will one day result in the ability for man to circumnavigate the globe in a plane powered only by solar energy.  Stay tuned in at http://solarimpulse.com/.