(SOLAR IMPULSE.com/Viktoria Djakovic).- One hundred years ago, Africa was out of reach from Europe by airplane. This route was opened to commercial flights in 1919 by the legendary pilots of the Compagnie crossing the Gibraltar Strait in a solar-powered airplane.
Générale Aéropostale such as Henry Lemaitre, Pierre Georges Latécoère, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Jean Memoz, when flying the first commercial airplanes between France and North Africa.
After the first leg done by André Borschberg to Madrid, Bertrand Piccard will follow their path to undertake a new first in aviation history, as soon as the meteorological conditions will allow it: flying from Spain to Morocco and "This is an opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneering spirit of these pilots and to highlight the humanist nature of the author of the Little Prince", said Bertrand Piccard. Let's mention in particular the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation working to assist the youth of today to become responsible citizens. In order to improve the state of the world, future generations need to be inspired to take action, an objective shared by both the Foundation and Solar Impulse.
"This is an opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneering spirit of these pilots and to highlight the humanist nature of the author of the Little Prince", said Bertrand Piccard. Let's mention in particular the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation working to assist the youth of today to become responsible citizens. In order to improve the state of the world, future generations need to be inspired to take action, an objective shared by both the Foundation and Solar Impulse.
The Foundation's upcoming exposition "La terre en heritage" at the Air and Space Museum at Paris Le Bourget airport (9 June-9 September 2012) is designed to highlight Saint-Exupéry's humanist and ecological approach in his manuscripts and illustrations. Given its close ties to Solar Impulse's message and objectives, both André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have accepted to give their patronage for this exposition.
Through a selection of spectacular images from NASA, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the French Space Agency CNES and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry himself as well as a children's drawing contest, the Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation is engaging to raise awareness of the grave challenges facing the Earth today by targeting the youngest generations.
