Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) is going to land in Mandalay in early March to instill inspirations for renewable energyand technology innovations in Myanmar. The first solar flight to fly around the world is expected to land on 10th March at Mandalay International Airport and make a stop- over for two and a half days. Solar Impulse 2 will start its five-month long journey in early March from Abu Dhabi and fly a total of 35,000 km (22,000 miles) and will make a layover in Mandalay where Myanmar is the only Southeast Asian country to be landed. The project is brought together by the Embassy of Switzerland and Solar Impulse in cooperation with Myanmar Government with the support from local partner First Myanmar Investment Co., Ltd (FMI) and international partnerships of Schindler and ABB. During its stop in Mandalay, about a thousand students will be meeting with the pilots in sharing knowledge and learning sessions about renewable energy. The exact time of landing will be announced five days in advance.
Swiss Ambassador, H.E M. Christoph Burgener said, “With the support of the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. U Thein Sein, the Government and the people of Myanmar, we are a few short weeks away from a historical moment for the country, the energy industry and innovators across the globe,” He continued, “An idea born in Switzerland, Solar Impulse seeks original solutions to achieve the impossible, teaching us that working together delivers superior outcomes. Similarly, as the Myanmar people come together, a brilliantfuture will be fostered for the country.” “Being a country blessed with many natural resources, the cause for renewable energies lies close to home. Much of our country’s success lies in identifying technologies that promote sustainable energy. The Solar Im- pulse 2 reminds us that such innovation and technology is available with unrelenting persistence and imagination”, stated by U Linn Myiang, Chief Operating Officer of FMI.
The two Swiss pilots, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are going to take Solar Impulse 2 around the world after 12 years of development and planning. André Borsch- berg, co-founder and pilot of Solar Impulse added, “I am looking forward to meeting students in Mandalay, organized by FMI, as Solar Impulse is also about working together to inspire the current and future generations of the world”
Solar Impulse 2 is scheduled to take off at the beginning of March 2015 from Abu Dhabi (UAE) and will make stopovers in Oman, India, Myanmar and China before crossing the Pacific Ocean and head to the United States and then cross the Atlantic Ocean for Southern Europe or North Africa before finally end its journey at its departure point, Abu Dhabi.
