Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, and Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, CEO of Masdar, on Wednesday visited Al Bateen Executive Airport to view Solar Impulse 2 during the aircraft's assembly.
Andre Borschberg, Solar Impulse co-founder, CEO, and pilot, greeted the Chairman and CEO and offered the Masdar executives a progress update on the plane's assembly.
Solar Impulse 2, the only airplane able to fly day and night on solar power without a drop of fuel, is attempting the first round-the-world solar flight in 2015 and beginning and ending its historic journey in Abu Dhabi.
The Solar Impulse team, hosted by Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, Masdar, will conduct a series of tests over the coming weeks prior to commencing the historic round-the-world flight from Abu Dhabi.
"The arrival and assembly of Solar Impulse 2 marks the first major milestone in the plane's historic journey around the world," said Al Jaber.
"It is particularly fitting that Masdar and Abu Dhabi are supporting this pioneering mission on the occasion of the UAE's year of innovation. As a leading investor in clean technology and renewable energy, it's only natural that Masdar support such an important, historic expedition, which will inspire the next generation of innovators." Masdar and Solar Impulse are both committed to environmental stewardship, to spreading a message about the importance of innovation, and pioneering technologies that enable a sustainable, cleaner future.
"Our partnership with Masdar stems from a shared commitment to creating a more sustainable future through investment in clean technology, said Andre Borschberg, CEO of Solar Impulse.
"We have chosen this location as being the best and most suitable departure and return point for the round-the-world tour, due to its climate, infrastructure and commitment to renewable energy. We are eager to complete Solar Impulse 2's assembly and showcase the aircraft to guests of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the coming days. With the support of Masdar, we are nearly ready to commence flight tests and soar across the skies of Abu Dhabi," Borschberg added.
Source: WAM