Solar Impulse co-founder in new venture

Borschberg

Solar Impulse co-founder Andre Borschberg has started a new venture to develop electric propulsion systems for air transport. According to a report in trade paper Aviation Week, the pioneering pilot has co-founded H55, based in Nyon, Switzerland.

A single-seat electrically-powered prototype has already undergone more than 50 hours of flight testing. The Aero1 is based on Silence Aircraft’s Twister kit plane.

Mr Borschberg has cooperated closely with Air Zermatt pilot Thomas Pfammatter and aerobatic paragliding champion Dominique Steffen, as well as former Solar Impulse members Sebastien Demont and Gregory Blatt in his latest foray into solar powered flight.

Mr Borschberg was the pilot in eight of the 17 legs of Solar Impulse 2’s around-the-world flight, which was completed in July 2016.  His co-founder Bertrand Piccard was the pilot for the other legs.

The record-breaking flight was supported by Prince Albert and the venture’s operational control centre was in Monaco.

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