Icarus and Solar Impulse both flying close to the sun

The connection simply doesn’t exist, but there appears to be a tangible link between Icarus and Solar Impulse.

I guess it is the sun for it is the intensity of this “big fire in the sky” that plays a critical role in both.

The solar powered, "Solar Impulse".

Icarus, the son of Daedalus, who had been imprisoned by King Minos of Crete within the walls of his own invention, the Labyrinth, but would not suffer captivity.

Daedalus was both inventive and creative and being a craftsman of genius, fashion two pairs of wings by adhering feathers to a wooden frame with wax and in giving one pair to his son, Icarus, cautioned him that flying too near the sun was cause the wax to melt.

Forgetting his father’s warning as he soared about in joy on his new wings, Icarus went too close to near the sun, the wax melted, he lost his feathers and crashed to his death.

The heat of the sun brought about disaster for Icarus, will hopefully, be the avenue to success for the team behind the Solar Impulse that is now on its maiden journey around world.

Solar Impulse intends to achieve the First Round-The-World Solar Flight this year after 12 years of research, tests and development. No fuel, but only solar energy and technologies of the future, to prove that pioneering spirit and innovation can really change the world.

Writing on the Solar Impulse website, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg argue they do not plan to revolutionize the aviation industry but instead to demonstrate that the actual alternative energy sources and new technologies can achieve what some consider impossible.

They say, “Solar Impulse wants to mobilize public enthusiasm in favor of technologies that will allow decreased dependence on fossil fuels, and induce positive emotions about renewable energies.

“Solar Impulse also wants to encourage and inspire each and every one of us to become pioneers and explorers in our own lives, and to invent a brighter future.