André Borschberg
André Borschberg (FRSGS) (born 13 December 1952) is a Swiss entrepreneur, explorer, pilot, and speaker. He is the co-founder of the Solar Impulse project, the first ever round-the-world solar flight, successfully completed in July 2016. During the Japan-to-Hawaii leg, André broke the world record for longest solo flight in an airplane of any kind: 117 hours and 52 minutes, breaking Steve Fossett's 2006 record. Before that, on 7 July 2010, André completed the first 24-hour solar-powered flight. The flight set records for the longest manned solar-powered flight and the greatest height reached by a manned solar aircraft.
André Borschberg FRSGS | |
|---|---|
Borschberg in 2011 | |
| Born | 13 December 1952 Zürich, Switzerland |
| Education | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, MS 1976 MIT Sloan, MS 1983 |
| Known for | Completed 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 |
| Website | www |
He currently holds 14 FAI world records in the free distance, free distance along a course, straight distance, straight distance predeclared waypoints, distance along a course, duration, absolute altitude, gain of height. His groundbreaking record: the longest solo flight in an airplane of any kind: 117 hours and 52 minutes.
Borschberg flew as a jet pilot in the Swiss Air Force prior to his work with Solar Impulse. An engineer by education and a graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management, André Borschberg has solid experience in creating and managing companies. His passion for aviation and his interest in innovative solutions have led him to team up with Bertrand Piccard as CEO, co-founder, and pilot of Solar Impulse.
For his role in delivering and piloting Solar Impulse, André was awarded the Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in 2018. This was awarded jointly with Bertrand Piccard.