Since 2006, Omega has been a main partner of the Solar Impulse project, which aims to engineer an aircraft capable of circumnavigating the Earth on just solar power. The manufacture has contributed to the project in several ways, from a test bench that simulates the aircraft’s electronics system, to warning systems designed to keep the pilot alert during long flights. The second iteration of the plane, Solar Impulse 2, was presented to the public in April last year, and began its circumnavigation attempt just two days ago from Abu Dhabi.
To mark the Solar Impulse 2’s attempt, Omega has released the Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 Solar Impulse Limited Edition. The watch is based on and similar to the Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 that is approved by the European Space Agency for use in its missions, but sports a blue and green colour scheme for its dial and NATO strap. Like the original, it is a full-featured pilot/astronaut watch – the spiritual successor to the Moonwatch, if you will – beginning with a lightweight case of Grade 2 titanium measuring 45mm across. Within it is the quartz Calibre 5619 that is chock-full of functions updated for the modern aviator or space farer. Tracking of three time zones down to the second? Check. Three separate alarms? Check. A chronograph and a countdown timer? Check. A perpetual calendar to top it all off? Check. These functions are accessed via four pushers and the crown, which also functions as an additional pusher. To present all this information, the movement has a hybrid digital/analogue display that supplements traditional hands with an LCD display in the middle of the watch. Accuracy wise, Calibre 5619’s thermo-compensated integrated circuit allows it to maintain its precision over a wide temperature range; the watch has been tested like the Speedmaster Skywalker X-33, and certified functional from -45 to +75 degrees Celsius.
The Solar Impulse Limited Edition will come in a limited run of 1924 pieces, which honours the year the first circumnavigation of the earth took place in an aircraft. As for the record attempt? The second leg of the journey from Muscat, Oman to Ahmedabad, India has been completed, with the Solar Impulse 2 bound for Varanasi, India next. Here’s a video on the partnership.
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