Solar-powered aircraft soars to new heights, surpassing 15-year old altitude record with a flight reaching 31,237 feet.
The SolarStratos team, an innovative venture in eco-friendly aviation, recently made history with a manned solar-powered flight into the stratosphere. On August 12, 2025, Swiss eco-explorer Raphaël Domjan piloted the SolarStratos aircraft to a new altitude record of 9,521 meters (31,237 feet), surpassing the previous record set by Solar Impulse by 286 meters.
The flight lasted 5 hours and 9 minutes, taking off from Sion Airport in Switzerland. The SolarStratos plane, a front-mounted single-propeller aircraft made of carbon fiber, boasts wings that hold 237 square feet (22 square meters) of high-spec solar panels. During the flight, Domjan utilised warm air thermals to climb higher than ever before.
The SolarStratos aircraft is powered entirely by solar energy, with assistance from thermal updrafts. The plane can take off at 31 mph (50 kph) and has a cruising speed of around 50 mph (80 kph), with a maximum speed of 87 mph (140 kph).
The achievement positions SolarStratos as a leading venture in sustainable aviation, demonstrating the viability and potential of solar-powered aircraft. The team has now surpassed 100 total flight hours and continues to break performance boundaries with improved battery capacity and a new variable-pitch propeller to enhance high-altitude flight proficiency. The official validation of this altitude record by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) is pending.
Raphaël Domjan, the pilot, has a history with solar-powered vehicles. In 2012, he became the first to sail worldwide in a fully solar-powered boat. The SolarStratos mission described the achievement as "one of those unforgettable peaks that define great human and technological adventures."
Looking ahead, the SolarStratos team aims to attempt an even higher flight reaching the 10,000-meter (approximately 33,000 feet) altitude mark, pending favourable weather conditions and necessary authorisations. This target would establish a further milestone beyond both Solar Impulse and their current record. The project embodies long-term ambitions towards demonstrating and advancing sustainable, decarbonized aviation technologies.
The progression of SolarStratos is supported by ongoing regulatory progress in electric and alternative propulsion in aviation. Recent FAA and international regulatory adjustments have eased certification for electrified and nontraditional aircraft propulsion systems, creating an environment that encourages continued innovation in solar and electric aviation exemplified by SolarStratos.
At cruising altitude, the SolarStratos aircraft crossed paths with a commercial airliner, a powerful symbol of what the decarbonized aviation of tomorrow might look like. The flight data will be sent to the World Air Sports Federation for verification.
| Aspect | Details | |------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Current Achievement | 9,521 m altitude record flight on Aug 12, 2025 | | Flight Duration | 5 hours 9 minutes | | Aircraft Upgrades | Increased battery capacity, variable-pitch propeller | | Flight Energy Source | Fully solar-powered with thermal updraft aid | | Record Validation | Pending Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) approval | | Future Goal | Aim for 10,000 m altitude flight over Swiss Alps | | Broader Mission | Pushing sustainable aviation, demonstrating solar-electric flight capabilities | | Regulatory Context | Supported by FAA and international rule changes promoting electric aviation |
- The achievement of SolarStratos is a testament to the intersection of innovation, science, and technology in the field of sustainable aviation, as they continue to break records and push the boundaries of what is possible with solar-powered aircraft.
- The progression of the SolarStratos project is supported by finance, as regulatory adjustments in various countries, such as the FAA, create an environment that encourages further investment in electric and alternative propulsion systems for aviation.
- The SolarStratos team's pursuit of a 10,000-meter altitude flight is an ambitious energy endeavor, with the potential to not only surpass their current record but also establish a new milestone in the realm of sustainable aviation, demonstrating the viability of renewable energy sources in the industry.
