Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan set a new altitude record for solar-electric aircraft by reaching 9,521 meters in his SolarStratos aircraft. The previous record, 9,235 meters, had stood for 15 years and was held by Andre Borschberg.

Altitude record from solar-powered plane

Domjan took advantage of hot air thermals to reach this unprecedented altitude. During the flight, which lasted 5 hours and 9 minutes, the pilot even encountered a passenger plane. Domjan’s team described this moment as “a powerful symbol of fossil-free aviation.”

Domjan, who can fly airplanes, gliders, and helicopters, has the next goal of reaching above 10,000 meters in a solar-powered plane and achieving the first manned flight into the stratosphere. At Swiss latitudes, the stratosphere begins at approximately 12,000 meters.

The record-breaking SolarStratos is a single-propeller aircraft with a carbon fiber fuselage. The aircraft, which is 9.6 meters long and has a 24.8-meter wingspan, features 22 square meters of high-efficiency solar panels on its wings. The aircraft can reach a takeoff speed of 50 km/h, a maximum speed of 140 km/h, and a cruise speed of 80 km/h.

Before his record attempt, Domjan conducted a test flight reaching an altitude of 6,589 meters. In his record attempt on Sunday, he conserved battery power and took the aircraft to an altitude of 8,224 meters.

Flight regulations require batteries to be charged solely with solar energy before takeoff. The aircraft also requires a battery charge of at least 16 percent upon landing and that it be powered entirely by solar panels. Domjan’s success further demonstrated the feasibility of sustainable flight at high altitude.