For 72 hours, non-stop, between 17 and 20 December 2013, Bertrand Piccard will stay at the controls of the flight simulator, a near-exact reconstruction of HB-SIB’s cockpit. The goal of the experience is to make the pilot as “sustainable” as the aircraft in preparation for the first round-the-world solar flight in 2015. André Borschberg successfully completed a first 72H flight simulation in 2012. It’s now Bertrand Piccard’s turn to take up the challenge.

 

An extreme human challenge: How to live in a cockpit of 160 cu ft. (9ft x 5ft x 3ft)? How to eat, make natural needs, and avoid immobility disorders? How to stay focus during the entire flight and manage a successful landing after several days? What resting strategy to adopt?

 

Bertrand Piccard will use self-hypnosis to meet the challenge and stay alert and control his fatigue. Everybody will be able to ask him questions about hypnosis on social networks and he will answer live from the cockpit on Wednesday, December 18 at 6:30 pm CET on www.solarimpulse.com

 

WILL HE MAKE IT?

There is not a lot of scientific or medical experience in the field of long duration flights, especially in a single-seater airplane that almost requires continuous steering. The goal is to collect the maximum of information and learnings from the 72H simulation and define the best strategies for the round-the-world flight.

 

Follow the simulation on www.solarimpulse.com and on Twitter @solarimpulse. Download everyday pictures and HD Footage on Solar Impulse’s press corner.