Solar Impulse Recognizes University of Hawaii as Host Partner

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, (808) 228-8108
Director of Communications and Outreach
Posted: Jul 6, 2015

*Video, sound and still pictures are available for this story.  More information at bottom of news release.

The University of Hawai‘i is playing an important role in the historic flight of the solar-powered airplane the Solar Impulse.  UH is housing the solar airplane, which has a wingspan of 72 meters and is wider than a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, in its hangar at Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei.

In recognition of the University of Hawai‘i System and Honolulu Community College's role as a host partner in the project, the Solar Impulse team put on a special open house today for UH students and faculty.  Pilot Andre Borschberg and members of the Solar Impulse team expressed their gratitude today, because they had to use a fragile mobile hangar during the plane’s last stop in Japan.  The University of Hawai‘i’s hangar also makes it easier for the team to accomplish its educational mission highlighting renewable energy and new solutions for environmental problems.

The solar airplane has the average 24-hour power of a small motorbike.  Its wings are lined with 17,248 solar cells.  It arrived in Hawaii from Japan on July 3, 2015.  The Solar Impulse will utilize UH’s hangar for about a week as the team prepares for the next leg of its history-making flight around the world.

 

About the University of Hawai‘i System

Established in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawai‘i System includes 10 campuses and dozens of educational, training and research centers across the state. As the sole public system of higher education in Hawai‘i, UH offers an array of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and community programs.  UH enrolls more than 60,000 students from Hawai‘i, the U.S. mainland and around the world.  For more information visit www.hawaii.edu.

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VIDEO AND SOUND AVAILABLE

Link to download video and sound: http://bit.ly/1M9cETR

B-ROLL:

:00 - :10    2 shots, exterior of UH hangar 111 at Kalaeloa Airport

:10 -  :21   2 shots, interior ws, hangar with Solar Impulse 2

:21 - :28    1 shot, Jasmine Hoapili with another student near Si2

:28 - :32    1 shot, ms, Si2 cockpit

:32 - :55    5 shots, students, signage, in hangar

:55 - 1:01   1 shot ms, Si2 cockpit

1:01 - 1:10  1 shot, Andre Borschberg on stage speaking to students

1:10 - 1:15   1 shot, ms, stage signage, cutaway

1:15 - 1:22 1 shot, ws, students and faculty posing for photo

SOUNDBITES:

Jasmine Hoapili, Honolulu CC graduate (:11)

“It’s an awesome experience.  Right now we’re doing a summer project having to do with solar panels, so it’s kind of cool that it’s on a big scale like this, because right now we’re just doing small scale.”

Alex Creadick, aeronautical maintenance student, Honolulu CC  (:09)

“The Solar Impulse is a pretty amazing plane.  To be able to run puely on solar energy around the world is a remarkable feat.  I’m glad to be here.”

Andre Borschberg, Pilot and CEO, Solar Impulse (:20)

“When I heard this from Japan I was extremely happy because in Japan we were in a tough situation to use a mobile hangar and to use it again in Hawai‘i would have been very complicated, so a very big relief and so thankful and so much gratitude for the university here in Hawai‘i.”

LINK TO STILL PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/honolulucc/albums/72157655386407652/page2