Breitling, the Swiss luxury watchmaker known for its pioneering spirit in aviation, proudly announces its partnership with Climate Impulse, the latest endeavor of Swiss explorer and climate advocate Bertrand Piccard.
This collaboration marks Breitling’s continued support for Piccard, a long-time brand ambassador, as he undertakes the groundbreaking Climate Impulse project: the first nonstop around-the-world, zero-emission flight, with a green hydrogen-powered airplane, estimated to last nine days and conceived to inspire climate action at large.
Bertrand Piccard, a serial explorer and pioneer of clean technologies, has a deep rooted history with Breitling, having been supported by the brand during the Breitling Orbiter missions, three vanguard journeys that saw Piccard achieve the first nonstop round-the-world balloon flight in 1999. Now, Breitling stands by Piccard once again as Official Partner as he embarks on another historic voyage, slated for 2028: the first nonstop round-the-world, zero emission flight with a hydrogen-powered airplane.
Breitling’s aviation heritage goes back to the 1930s, when its Huit Aviation division developed precision cockpit instruments and pilots’ chronographs for early aviators. With the rise of airlines, the brand went on to become “the official supplier to world aviation” with its Navitimer chronograph, equipped with a computational slide rule, ideal for commercial air crews. Today, Breitling’s Professional line of digital-analog aviation watches, continues to serve pilots on test flights and in extreme conditions—conditions that Piccard and team will face on their historymaking voyage.
In a statement about the Climate Impulse mission, Breitling CEO Georges Kern remarked, “Breitling has always been at the forefront of aviation, and our partnership with Climate Impulse is the next level of this commitment. By supporting Bertrand Piccard and his team, we are championing the future of sustainable aviation.”
Bertrand Piccard, whose trailblazing achievements also include the first round-the-world solar-powered flight—Solar Impulse, 2016—emphasized the importance of presenting climate action in a more positive way: “We must change the narrative of ecology from sacrifice and fear to excitement and hope. Realistic solutions will bring people together, from citizens and green activists to political and business leaders.
Raphaël Dinelli, an experienced sailor, pilot, and composite engineer will join Piccard on this new adventure. Dinelli brings his expertise in renewable energies and eco-innovations to the Climate Impulse project, leading the construction of this revolutionary airplane by his company 49Sud.
The Climate Impulse project aims to showcase the potential of hydrogen-powered flights as a sustainable alternative for future aviation and to revolutionize the heavy mobility sector. Beyond this, Climate Impulse wants to send a powerful message that modernizing and decarbonizing our world is possible. With a shared vision of innovation and cooperation, Piccard, Dinelli, and their teams, together with Breitling, are poised to make history once again, inspiring a new generation of environmental stewardship.
Climate Impulse Flight Timeline:
- 2024 – 2026: Construction of the airplane
- 2026 – 2027: Test Flights
- 2028: First nonstop round-the-world flight
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