Swiss aviator edge towards solar-powered aircraft height milestone
On August 12, 2025, Swiss pilot Raphaël Domjan made aviation history by taking the SolarStratos plane to an unprecedented altitude of 9,521 meters (31,237 feet)[1][2][3][4]. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 9,235 meters set by Solar Impulse in 2010.
Domjan's daring flight took place above Sion, southwestern Switzerland, and lasted just over five hours. The SolarStratos plane, equipped with high-spec solar panels covering its 24.8-metre wingspan, relied on solar energy and thermal air currents to achieve this remarkable milestone [2][3].
The new record is still awaiting official validation from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) or the World Air Sports Federation, which will confirm it based on pressure altitude corrected to standard density altitude and ensure all flight energy was solar-generated [1][2][3]. Technical upgrades to Domjan’s SolarStratos aircraft ahead of this flight included increased battery capacity and a new variable-pitch propeller to improve high-altitude performance [2].
Looking to the future, Domjan and the SolarStratos team have set their sights on breaking the 10,000-meter altitude barrier, matching typical commercial airliner cruising altitudes, and ultimately aiming for the first manned solar-powered flight into the stratosphere at around 12,000 meters [3][4]. This effort symbolizes advancing clean, decarbonized aviation and aims to demonstrate the potential of solar-powered mobility [1][2][3][4][5].
Raphaël Domjan, an adventurer at heart, has expressed his intention to continue trying to reach 10,000 meters and beyond. As he stated, "being a pioneer and an adventurer means trying something that is not certain to succeed" [4].
No further details about Domjan's background or previous flights were provided in the text. The potential impact of Domjan's flight on the aviation industry remains to be seen.
[1] BBC News
[2] CNN
[3] Reuters
[4] Swissinfo
[5] The Guardian
Sports news outlets reported on Raphaël Domjan's ambitious goal to break the 10,000-meter altitude barrier in sports, technology, and aviation, surpassing the achievements of previous record holders. Meanwhile, the latest update in technology news highlighted the upgrade of Domjan's SolarStratos aircraft for his upcoming flight attempt into the stratosphere.
