Solar Impulse Pilot honoured in Nyon - Plane just landed in Varanasi, India
- Catherine
- Mar 18, 2015
- 2 min read
André Borschberg, one of the two pilots currently attempting a round-the-world solar flight in the plane "Solar Impulse", was recently honoured in Nyon and bestowed the award of "bourgeoisie d'honneur de la Ville". This award was given for his pioneering spirit, his bravery, his contribution to society and for flying the Nyon/ Vaud / Swiss colours in all his endeavours! Since 1719, the award has been handed out by the town to just ten people. André Borschberg has lived in Nyon since 1987.
André is an engineer by education and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in management science. His passion for aviation and his interest in innovative solutions led him to team up with Bertrand Piccard to direct Solar Impulse. Fascinated by aviation from his earliest youth, André Borschberg, born in 1952, trained as a pilot in the Swiss air force. Today he holds an assortment of professional airplane and helicopter pilot’s licences and also does aerobatics in his spare time.
Photo above - André Borschberg © Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch Yesterday (17 March ) the Solar Impulse plane landed in Ahmedabad after crossing the Arabian Sea, it had completed the longest distance ever flown by a solar airplane in aviation history. You can track the plane's journey and find out discover more about this fantastic project on the Solar Impulse website you can also follow both pilots Tweets! The plane has now just landed (18 March) in Varanasi and will be heading off to Mandalay in Myanmar tomorrow morning and will be piloted by Bertrand Piccard. Lausanne born Bertrand Piccard comes from a famous family of adventurers. If you want to know more about their history, you can read and discover more about them in the excellent Auguste and Jacques Piccard collection in the Musée du Leman in Nyon.
Photo above - Courtesy Solar Impulse RTW
Photo above - Courtesy Solar Impulse - RTW
Local dancers give farewell to pilot André Borschberg before take-off from Ahmedabad.