Ultra-Light Solar Impulse Plane Using Bayer MaterialScience Materials Set to Take Flight Across America
Mountain View, CA, April 01, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Solar Impulse – an ultra-lightweight, solar-powered plane, capable of flying day and night – is set to take Flight Across America with the help of diverse material innovations and technologies from Bayer MaterialScience.
The plane will start its cross-country flight in San Francisco, stopping off in Phoenix and Dallas before landing in Washington, D.C., and then onto its final destination, New York City. It will be a key breakthrough for the Solar Impulse project, which ultimately aims to be the first manned aircraft to circumnavigate the globe completely without fuel in 2015.
Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andrè Borschberg, co-founders and pilots of the Solar Impulse project, worked closely with Bayer MaterialScience to make the vision possible.
“By collaborating with Solar Impulse, we’re truly living the Bayer motto – ‘Science for a Better Life’ – as we make progress together toward more energy-efficient transportation solutions in the future,” said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience.
The highly anticipated Solar Impulse Flight Across America showcases several Bayer materials and technologies:
· High-performance polyurethane rigid foams used in the wing tips, motor gondolas and cabin
· High-performance polycarbonate films used in the cabin window
· High-performance adhesive and coating raw materials used in the cabin, as well as structure-covering films and wing-covering fabric
“The pioneering Solar Impulse mission is the ideal platform to demonstrate how Bayer’s innovation can contribute to society’s needs,” said Richard Northcote, head of sustainability, Bayer MaterialScience. “We have developed new solutions and applications for our materials and proven they can perform in the most strenuous conditions.
“And, like Solar Impulse, Bayer MaterialScience is committed to reducing energy consumption while investing in clean technologies.”
During the day, 12,000 solar cells on the surface of the aircraft power four electric motors and charge four lithium polymer batteries, enabling the aircraft to fly with solar energy during the night.
“Bayer materials showcased on the plane are the same materials we use to serve other markets and customers, including lightweighting for automotive and transportation, insulation for building and construction and thermal management for consumer electronics,” explained Jerry MacCleary, president, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.
A second aircraft, which is currently under construction, will be used for the 2015 flight around the world. This plane will need to be even more lightweight than the current plane, providing additional opportunities to showcase Bayer’s material innovations.
About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,500 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2012 sales of 11.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
Contact:
Katie Kirkpatrick, Phone: 412-777-5200
Email: katie.kirkpatrick@bayer.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience visit www.bmsnafta.com.
For more information about Solar Impulse visit www.solarimpulse.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
The plane will start its cross-country flight in San Francisco, stopping off in Phoenix and Dallas before landing in Washington, D.C., and then onto its final destination, New York City. It will be a key breakthrough for the Solar Impulse project, which ultimately aims to be the first manned aircraft to circumnavigate the globe completely without fuel in 2015.
Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andrè Borschberg, co-founders and pilots of the Solar Impulse project, worked closely with Bayer MaterialScience to make the vision possible.
“By collaborating with Solar Impulse, we’re truly living the Bayer motto – ‘Science for a Better Life’ – as we make progress together toward more energy-efficient transportation solutions in the future,” said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience.
The highly anticipated Solar Impulse Flight Across America showcases several Bayer materials and technologies:
· High-performance polyurethane rigid foams used in the wing tips, motor gondolas and cabin
· High-performance polycarbonate films used in the cabin window
· High-performance adhesive and coating raw materials used in the cabin, as well as structure-covering films and wing-covering fabric
“The pioneering Solar Impulse mission is the ideal platform to demonstrate how Bayer’s innovation can contribute to society’s needs,” said Richard Northcote, head of sustainability, Bayer MaterialScience. “We have developed new solutions and applications for our materials and proven they can perform in the most strenuous conditions.
“And, like Solar Impulse, Bayer MaterialScience is committed to reducing energy consumption while investing in clean technologies.”
During the day, 12,000 solar cells on the surface of the aircraft power four electric motors and charge four lithium polymer batteries, enabling the aircraft to fly with solar energy during the night.
“Bayer materials showcased on the plane are the same materials we use to serve other markets and customers, including lightweighting for automotive and transportation, insulation for building and construction and thermal management for consumer electronics,” explained Jerry MacCleary, president, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.
A second aircraft, which is currently under construction, will be used for the 2015 flight around the world. This plane will need to be even more lightweight than the current plane, providing additional opportunities to showcase Bayer’s material innovations.
About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,500 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2012 sales of 11.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
Contact:
Katie Kirkpatrick, Phone: 412-777-5200
Email: katie.kirkpatrick@bayer.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience visit www.bmsnafta.com.
For more information about Solar Impulse visit www.solarimpulse.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Contact
Bayer MaterialScience LLC
Katie Kirkpatrick
412-777-5200
www.bmsnafta.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC, call 412-777-3983 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.
Katie Kirkpatrick
412-777-5200
www.bmsnafta.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC, call 412-777-3983 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.
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