Even as they are on an ambitious round-the-world flying expedition on the solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse 2 (Si2), its pilots and co-developers, Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, have set their sights on developing its unmanned version.
“One potential project that we are going to work on is to develop an unmanned version of this aircraft, which should be capable of flying very high and staying in the air for six months doing communication work,” Mr. Borschberg told presspersons on Wednesday at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, where Si2 is currently parked. The flight landed at the airport on Tuesday night — its second stop since it began its world tour from Abu Dhabi on March 8.
As for the commercial viability of Si2, the pilots said pioneering innovation was the first step, before the innovation could be taken to people.
“When the Wright brothers were flying planes, they did not have the technology to fly passengers. It happened after nearly two decades. But they had the pioneering spirit to open the door and show what is possible,” Mr. Piccard said.
The pilots said their team would continue to work on new ideas, technologies and solutions and let people industrialise the solutions.
Calling for people’s participation in green initiatives, Mr. Piccard said he would use their support to speak at the U.N. climate change conferences.
The innovator duo said India was not a random choice as a stop of Si2. “It is among the big countries. It is very important for me personally as I have visited here several times,” Mr. Borschberg said.
