For Bertrand Piccard, the desire to explore is in his blood; his father delved into the depths of the ocean, his grandfather went up above the earth, and Bertrand soared around the world in a hot air balloon. For Andre Borschberg, his fighter pilot training allows him to better appreciate risks to come up with the correct decisions.
In Point of No Return, these two remarkable individuals team up to turn a dream into a concept of creating a plane free of noise and pollution. With a talented group of engineers, the company designs a prototype “Solar Impulse” that will be powered by solar energy and flown around the world. Despite weather holdups and mechanical hurdles, the men are successful and fly the first solar-powered plane around the globe.
With mission control in Monaco and the plane ready for its world tour in Abu Dhabi, the pilots prepare for flight. Only one individual can fit in the small cabin, so Bertrand and Andre will take turns flying. The wingspan is as wide as a 747 but the plane weighs only as much as a family car. Constructed of fabric, carbon, solar panels, and batteries, the plane has the horsepower of a scooter and obtains its energy directly from the sun.
Each day the plane soars high as the sun rises, and later in the day slowly makes its descent as it conserves energy for the low altitude evening flight. In the air and at each stop on the journey, Bertrand and Andre convey their message of replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. The first legs of the journey include stops in India, Myanmar; and China. As Andre sets out for the Pacific Ocean, inclement weather forces them to stop in Japan. Without their mobile hangar, the plane gets damaged by the wind and rain.
Finally, the hangar arrives, the plane is secured, and repairs are made. Timing becomes an issue as the June solstice has come and gone, leaving less daylight. Andre convinces the risk-aversive engineers and safety board that they should proceed. After the first attempt is canceled for bad weather, Andre takes off and flies for five days over the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. More repairs are needed as the batteries overheat; the trip resumes nine months later. Bertrand flies for two days crossing the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, and, after crossing America, it’s Bertrand’s turn to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip ends in Abu Dhabi.
Close-up shots inside the cockpit as well as views of the plane above the clouds at sunrise provide an incredible view of the trip. Comments from the engineers, weathermen, and crew members convey the emotion and other highs and lows of this remarkable journey for those involved. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P.