Age does not protect against stupidity. Instead of retiring, the Swiss adventurer and environmental activist is once again looking for the world stage: The now 64-year-old climate action pioneer Bertrand Piccard wants to circumnavigate the planet with the “Climate Impulse” plane. And non-stop. Without a stopover!
The project wants to show that disruptive technologies can make the impossible possible and that emission-free flying is not a utopia.
Mission: “Emission-free flying is not a utopia”
The ClimateAction Hero Bertrand Piccard, one of the two pilots who circumnavigated the earth with the Solar Impulse solar aircraft in 2015/2016 and who, together with Brian Jones, was the first person to circumnavigate the earth in a balloon in 1999, now has his own project Hydrogen aircraft called “Climate Impulse” with which he wants to fly around the world again in 2028.
However, this time the flight around the globe will be non-stop. Piccard will not fly alone with the Climate Impulse; engineer and passionate sailor Raphaël Dinelli will be the second crew member on board for the flight.
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Piccard’s team has been working on the project for two years and has gathered well-known and competent supporters, including the Ariane Group, Airbus, Daher, Capgemini and the scientific company Syensqo from Belgium.
Hydrogen aircraft costs 60 million euros
The construction of the Climate Impulse is almost complete and production of the first parts has already begun with the participation of the Ariane Group. Construction is expected to be completed in two years, after which the twin-engine aircraft will undergo extensive testing for two years.
The project’s budget is currently 60 million euros, of which 45 million are reserved for the construction of the aircraft and 15 million for subsequent testing.
Together with another pilot, he wants to circle the earth non-stop with the hydrogen-electric aircraft Climate Impulse.