André Borschberg
André Borschberg FRSGS | |
|---|---|
Borschberg in 2011 | |
| Born | 13 December 1952 |
| Education | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, MS 1976 MIT Sloan, MS 1983 |
| Known for | Completing the first round-the-world solar flight and the longest solo flight in an airplane of any kind: 117 hours and 52 minutes |
| Awards | 14 FAI world records |
| Aviation career | |
| Famous flights | Longest solo solar flight ever in aviation history from Nagoya to Hawaii |
| Air force | Swiss Air Force |
André Borschberg (born 13 December 1952) is a Swiss entrepreneur, explorer, pilot, and professional speaker. He is the co-founder and CEO of Solar Impulse. In July 2016, he co-piloted and successfully completed the first manned solar-powered flight to circumnavigate the Earth.
Borschberg is the co-founder and executive chairman of H55, a company that developes electric propulsion technology for the aviation industry and serves as a member of the World Economic Forum Community of Experts.
Borschberg holds several world records for his work on Solar Impulse, a project aimed to design, build, and fly long-range manned solar-powered aircraft. On July 7th, 2010, he completed the first 24-hour solar-powered flight, setting the records for the longest manned solar-powered flight and the greatest height reached by a solar aircraft. During the Japan-to-Hawaii leg of the flight, Borschberg flew non-stop for 117 hours and 52 minutes, breaking Steve Fossett’s 2006 world record for longest solo flight in an airplane of any kind.
Borschberg holds 14 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) world records, including: free distance along a course, straight distance, and the longest solo flight in a fixed-wing aircraft of any kind.
For his role in delivering and piloting Solar Impulse, Borschberg was jointly awarded the Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in 2018, with Bertrand Piccard.