SolarStratos: Raphaël Domjan sets new personal record in solar-powered flight

Swiss explorer Raphaël Domjan has set a new personal record with SolarStratos, showcasing once again the potential of solar-powered aviation.

Swiss explorer and eco-adventurer Raphaël Domjan has set a new personal altitude record with his solar-powered aircraft, SolarStratos, reaching 8,224 meters during a flight on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The performance surpasses his previous best by more than 1,600 meters, although it falls short of the current world record of 9,235 meters.

Taking off from Sion Airport, Domjan piloted the HB-SXA for four and a half hours, using summer thermal currents to climb to the record altitude at 5:25 p.m. The attempt is part of his ambition to become the first pilot to fly a solar aircraft above 10,000 meters, a milestone still within reach, with another attempt possible in the coming days.

This latest achievement follows technical upgrades to SolarStratos, including increased battery capacity and a new variable-pitch propeller for improved high-altitude performance.