Following the extraordinary success of the Breitling Orbiter 3, I continue to enjoy my flying - both in lighter and heavier than air machines. Whilst I still cherish my role as balloon instructor and examiner, I get really excited about new challenges that come my way. Here are the future plans, thus far, and details of what I have been doing since the Orbiter flight:
Adventure:
2004_2010 -The Solar Impulse Project
Develop and fly a solar-powered aeroplane to achieve a number of significant world firsts leading to a flight around the world, using no embarked fuel and creating zero pollution.
It was never going to be easy to find a project to follow Breitling Orbiter. Bertrand and I agreed that whatever we did together should be meaningful and useful as well as another great adventure. So here it is ..... Solar Impulse!
Meaningful because man has never stayed aloft in an aeroplane powered by the sun for more than a few hours, let alone overnight. So the long road to achieving the first round-the world-flight will be paved with a host of record-breaking firsts, new scientific breakthroughs and a pioneering spirit for the development of renewable energy resources in aviation.
Useful in that the technological breakthroughs in the fields of intelligent composite materials and lightweight structures, symbiotic human/machine interfaces and energy storage and management will find applications far beyond solar-powered flight. Useful too because Bertrand and I intend to use this project as an opportunity to promote the ideal of sustainable development with an emphasis on renewable energy.
Scientific innovation and advances in technology are often viewed with scepticism and mistrust, particularly in the early stages. But if we are to halt and reverse our headlong decline towards the destruction of our environment, it is going to be science that plays a major role. Whilst individual efforts to prevent waste and conserve resources are of course vitally important, it is unrealistic to expect people to sacrifice their quality of life and governments to hold back short-term economic development of their countries. Surely much better to encourage new technology, embrace it, and put it to use for the benefit of all.
The University of Lausanne (EPFL), have concluded a feasibility study for Solar Impulse and are now leading the scientific investigations to find solutions to the technological challenges in keeping a solar aeroplane flying throughout both days and nights. The design phase is underway, with a prototype test aircraft due in 2007. We intend to fly the first record-breaking flight in early 2008 followed by the re-enactment of some of the great pioneering flights of the last century, but this time with the power of the sun being our only fuel source. Our round-the-world flight is scheduled for 2010.
Further information is available at www.solar-impulse.com
Summer 2003. QinetiQ 1 - the Edge of Space (first attempt!).
In 2002, I teamed up once again with Andy Elson to assist in his and Colin Prescot's attempt at a new ballooning altitude record. The Qinetiq 1 project aims to fly a huge helium balloon to 132,000ft, beating the current 40 year old record, set by NASA, by more than 18,000ft. Andy flew with Bertrand Piccard aboard Breitling Orbiter 2, and with Colin on the Cable and Wireless round the world attempt. My role is that of Mission Control Director. Unfortunately, the first attempt ended in failure when a seam split at the top of the balloon - one of those foolish little mistakes that often haunt a high-tech project such as this. The good news however, is that all the expensive equipment remains intact for another attempt should the sponsor agree. For more information see www.qinetiq1.com
May 2000 - The Britannic Challenge
This extraordinary track shows the route of the first balloon flight to the North Pole. The red track depicts the route to, and the blue from, the pole. The pilot was David Hempleman-Adams, a veteran of polar exploration (previously on foot!). I helped David plan the project and acted as Flight Director. Luc Trullemans, one of our Breitling Orbiter team, was the meteorologist whose brilliance found this track within the chaotic weather patterns of the Arctic Circle.
