André Borschberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André Borschberg
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Borschberg in 2025
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| Born | 13 December 1952 |
| Education | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, MS 1976 MIT Sloan, MS 1983 |
| Known for | Flew around the world in a solar-powered plane. He also holds the record for the longest solo flight ever, flying for almost five days straight. |
| 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 December 13, 1952) is a Swiss pilot, explorer, and entrepreneur. He is famous for being one of the creators of the Solar Impulse project. This project built a special airplane that flies using only power from the sun.
In 2016, Borschberg and his partner, Bertrand Piccard, became the first people to fly all the way around the world in a solar-powered plane. This amazing journey proved that clean energy could be used for long-distance travel.
Borschberg is also the co-founder of a company called H55. This company works on creating electric engines for airplanes. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum's Community of Experts, where he shares his knowledge.
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Record-Breaking Flights
André Borschberg is known for setting incredible world records in aviation. His work with Solar Impulse, a project to build and fly a long-range solar-powered airplane, led to many achievements.
On July 7, 2010, he flew a solar plane for 26 hours straight. This was the first time a solar plane had flown through an entire day and night without stopping. This flight set two new records: the longest flight in a solar plane and the highest altitude reached by one.
His most famous record was set during the round-the-world trip. He flew non-stop from Japan to Hawaii, a journey that took 117 hours and 52 minutes (almost five days). This broke the world record for the longest solo flight in any kind of airplane, a record previously held by Steve Fossett.
In total, Borschberg holds 14 FAI world records for his flying. For his amazing work on the Solar Impulse project, he was awarded the Mungo Park Medal in 2018.
Early Life and Education
André Borschberg was born in Zürich, Switzerland. He was always interested in engineering and flying. He earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from a top Swiss university.
Later, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. There, he earned another master's degree in management science. He also studied business and finance.
Career Before Solar Impulse
Before his famous solar flights, Borschberg was a jet pilot in the Swiss Air Force. This gave him valuable experience as a pilot.
After his time in the air force, he worked as a business consultant for five years. He also helped start a technology company that created a new type of computer memory.
The Solar Impulse Project
Borschberg was a key leader in the Solar Impulse project. He was not only one of the pilots but also managed the engineering and business side of the project.
Solar Impulse 1 Missions
The first plane, called Solar Impulse 1, completed several important missions. On July 7, 2010, Borschberg proved the plane could fly for 26 hours, using its batteries to stay in the air overnight.
The plane also made several international flights across Europe. It flew from Switzerland to Brussels, Belgium, and then to Paris, France. These flights showed that a solar airplane could fly in busy international airspace just like a normal plane.
In 2012, Solar Impulse 1 made its first flight between continents. It flew from Switzerland to Morocco in Africa. The next year, in 2013, the plane crossed the United States, flying from San Francisco to New York City.
Solar Impulse 2 and the World Flight
The second plane, Solar Impulse 2, was built for the biggest challenge: flying around the world. In 2015 and 2016, Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard took turns piloting the plane on its global journey.
The trip was made in 17 stages, or "legs." One of the most difficult legs was the flight across the Pacific Ocean. Borschberg flew from Nagoya, Japan, to Kalaeloa, Hawaii. This flight lasted for nearly five days and set the world record for the longest solo flight.
Life After Solar Impulse
After the historic round-the-world flight, Borschberg continued to work with new technology.
H55 Company
In 2017, Borschberg co-founded H55. This company uses the technology and knowledge gained from the Solar Impulse project. H55 develops and sells electric motors for airplanes, helping to make aviation cleaner and quieter.
Objectif Soleil Book
In 2017, Borschberg and Piccard wrote a book about their adventure called Objectif Soleil (which means "Objective: Sun"). The book tells the story of the Solar Impulse project from their perspective.
See also
In Spanish: André Borschberg para niños
- International Committee of Clean Technologies
