Taking off from Château d'Oex in Switzerland on 1 March 1999, Bertrand Piccard completed the first non-stop balloon circumnavigation of the globe. Alongside pilot Brian Jones, he spent nineteen days and nearly twenty-two hours in the air, traversing over 45,000 kilometers within a carbon-composite capsule to demonstrate the capabilities of long-distance, fuel-free atmospheric flight.
Early Background and Medical Training
Born in 1958 in Lausanne, Piccard represents a multi-generational legacy of exploration. Despite a childhood fear of heights, he turned his attention to aviation by the age of sixteen, initially exploring hang gliding. His academic career led him to the University of Lausanne, where he earned a degree in psychiatry. He later served as a lecturer and supervisor at the Swiss Medical Society for Hypnosis, combining his interest in human behavior with the rigors of extreme environments.
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Before his circumnavigation success, Piccard established himself as a prominent figure in aviation, winning the European hang-glider aerobatics championship in 1985. He maintained licenses for balloons, gliders, and motorized aircraft. His 1999 flight in the Breitling Orbiter 3 confirmed his reputation in aeronautics, leading to several honors, including the 1999 Hubbard Medal and the FAI Gold Air Medal.
Solar Impulse Project
In 2003, Piccard initiated a collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne to develop Solar Impulse, a solar-powered aircraft designed for long-range travel. Construction began in 2007, culminating in a series of international flights between 2010 and 2016. In July 2016, Piccard and his co-pilot, André Borschberg, successfully finalized the first round-the-world flight fueled entirely by solar power.
Environmental Advocacy and Foundation Work
Following the success of Solar Impulse, Piccard founded the Solar Impulse Foundation, which launched the World Alliance for Clean Technologies in 2016. His organization aims to promote sustainable economic transitions by identifying and certifying efficient, profit-making environmental solutions. By April 2021, the foundation had successfully identified 1,000 distinct solutions meeting their criteria for the Efficient Solutions Label.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Citizenship: Belgium, Switzerland
- Education: University of Lausanne
- Fields: Psychiatry, Aeronautics
- Notable Recognition: Hubbard Medal (1999)
- Hydrogen Record: 778 kilometers in 2019
- Languages: French
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of the Solar Impulse Foundation?
The foundation identifies and certifies 1,000 clean technology solutions to accelerate sustainable economic growth.
Did Bertrand Piccard fly around the world alone?
No, his 1999 balloon circumnavigation was completed with Brian Jones, and his 2016 solar-powered flight was shared with André Borschberg.
Achievements
- Order of Saint-Charles
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Hubbard Medal — 1999
- Fields: psychiatry and aeronautics
