I’ve reported on the Solar Impulse before, but this time, it’s legit next door. The Solar Impulse (HB-SIA) piloted by André Borschberg took-off this morning from Payerne Airfield (Switzerland) at 08:24AM (UTC +2), heading straight for Madrid Barajas Airport. It’s scheduled to land around 01:00AM (UTC+2) for a minimum 3-day technical stopover. Depending on the weather conditions, the first possible departure for Rabat, with Bertrand Piccard at the controls, will be Monday, May 28. 

Solar Impulse is an ultra-lightweight revolutionary plane, capable of flying day and night, without fuel. Silent take off with it’s four motors, huge wingspan equal to that of an Airbus A340, and Carbon fibre structure will wow even the more powerful of pilots, and may just be the game changer aviation isn’t ready for. 

We must be smoking the same pipe, because we’re both on the Madrid to Marrakesh route. In case you can’t catch the action live, the airplane’s position, altitude and speed will be shown live; cameras fitted inside the cockpit and at “Mission Control Center”, the mission’s nerve center, will allow you to get in on the action. Track the Crossing Frontiers Flights 2012 via internet, app, Twitter (for André or Bertrand) and Facebook. Fly on fellas, fly on.  

In my fantasy world, a New York to Tokyo flight would be about as long as an UES to WV trek. Alas, a girl can dream. But what’s a reality? A Tokyo to Paris flight in under three hours, two and a half hours to be exact. The concept of zero-emissions, supersonic flight is being explored by European aircraft maker, EADS. This bad boy might in fact fly above the atmosphere, yet it will still take off from a regular runway. The concept project, known as ZEHST (Zero Emission High Speed Transport), is prepping to whisk away 50 to 100 business-passengers. Because what goes down at 158,000 feet is always business. Need more? 

Roundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it.
A Honeymoon made just for you, Boeing vs. Airbus battle and Town & Country Art event…. 

Take It. Your Dream Honeymoon.
Jetsetter is giving away a honeymoon, custom designed just for you by our Personal Travel Planning service. The winner will be matched with one of our globe-trotting Travel Experts who will help you choose the ultimate destination and map out the entire trip with excellent hotels, restaurants, activities and more. Oh, and we’ll be picking up the tab for your hotel & flights — up to $5,000.

Art Show. Town and Country. 
Town & Country proposes a new vision of American art reinterpreted for a new generation. On June 28th through June 30th at 320 West 37th Street in New York City, Republic Worldwide, The Marketplace Gallery, Keith Schweitzer (M.A.N.Y.), and The Brooklyn Art Collective invite you to join the discussion and stoke the fires of debate of Town & Country: the very best of contemporary American art. Artists include: Scott Michael Ackerman,Doug Auld, Paul Brainard, White Cocoa, Hannah Cole, Annika Conner, Helen Dennis, Eric Diehl, Ira Eduardovna, Tara de la Garza, Charles Koegel, Elizabeth Livingston and more. So view it… 

By Paul Brainard

Aviation. Paris Air Show. 
We have a winner! In the Boeing vs. Airbus battle this week at the Paris Air Show, Airbus walked off with a record number of orders for new planes. An AirAsia firm order for around 200 A320neos helped mark a record $72 billion worth of aircraft orders and commitments at the event. “I have to admit, I largely underestimated the market demand for neo before this show,” said a surprised Airbus CEO, Tom Enders. I guess he missed the mark on that one… oh, and more interestingly, Airbus has released a video of its concept of air travel in the year 2050. Let’s go. 

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There are very few things as fab as a sea plane… With my Hamptons anticipation at an all-time high, Standard Hotels introduced the StndAIR seaplane shuttle (seriously!? I dare you to be hotter). StndAIR takes off from 23rd Street and the East River with weekly scheduled flights from Thursday - Monday to East Hampton. The sexy 8-seat Cessna can take you anywhere you want within a 300 mile radius of Manhattan. 

To top it off, Mr. Stan D’arde is playing a little game called Flight Board. Try and fill a sea plane with your friends - first seat $30 (sorry seat taken), second seat $95 (and the winner is @Rosszboss), the next $145 and so on, and so forth. So let’s get this charter started! To book your seat or to charter the plane, please visit StndAIR or call 855-STND-AIR (786-3247) or email Reservations@StndAIR.com.

Photos by Cheryl Dunn

(Source: standardhotels)

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Swiss Alps via Flight 001

#breathtaking #snowcapped #Switzerland

(Source: Flickr / marirn)

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What is the world coming to? In case you couldn’t handle a three-hour break from typing on your board while on board a flight, Gogo Wireless is equipping flights with Facebook during the month of February. Airlines that will be offering the promotion include American Airlines, AirTran, Alaska Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.

Facebook access will be free for all, but full Wi-Fi connection will begin at $4.95. Ok I know, who am I to talk? But it’s part of my job people!

! There’s nothing like flying private. There’s no need to arrive two hours before your departure, no check-in line, no pat-down at security or squeezing your bag into the overhead compartment. Instead, there’s guaranteed on-time departure (unless of course you decide to spend more time in Nantucket), pulling up to the plane on the tarmac (exactly the way you see in the movies), advanced security screenings (ok, I sort of miss the TSA) and a plane full of space for you, and your golf bag, too. Board a bad-boy with the Magellan Jets Voyager Gift Card on Jetsetter.com!

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In late 2010, @NASA awarded contracts to three teams — Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, The Boeing Company — to study advanced concept designs for aircraft that could take to the skies in the year 2025. At the time of the award, the team gave NASA a sneak peek of the particular design they plan to pursue. 

Each design looks very different, but all final designs have to meet NASA’s goals for less noise, cleaner exhaust and lower fuel consumption. Facts: each design has to fly up to 85 percent of the speed of sound; cover a range of approximately 7,000 miles; and carry between 50,000 and 100,000 pounds of payload, either passengers or cargo. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (Source: Nasa - tipoff via Conde Nast Traveler).

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Oct 28th, 4:09 PM via @ScottABCNews
Orlando, Florida #plane #landing #sunshine

@ScottABCNews: “I always pick the window seat … Nice cloud reflection today” http://plixi.com/p/53403969 about 3 hours ago via ÜberTwitter

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San Diego Airport -California, USA
#SAN #plane #airport #aviationnerd
via fuckyeahtravelinspirations

(Source: flickr.com)