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Swiss Solar Plane Achieves Historic Milestone
The SolarStratos HB-SXA, a revolutionary solar-powered aircraft, has set a new world record for manned solar flight by reaching an altitude of 9,521 meters (31,237 feet) above the Swiss Alps on August 12, 2025. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 9,235 meters set by Solar Impulse in 2010.
Technical Specifications and Flight Details
The record-breaking flight took off from Sion Airport in Switzerland with SolarStratos founder Raphaël Domjan at the controls. The aircraft completed a 5-hour and 9-minute journey, including a 2-hour ascent and 3-hour descent over the Alpine region.
The HB-SXA features impressive technical specifications:
- Length: 8.5 meters (27.9 feet)
- Wingspan: 24.8 meters (81.4 feet)
- Weight: 450 kilograms (992 pounds)
- Solar panel area: 22 square meters
- Electric motor: 50 kW (70 kW peak power)
- Propeller: 3-blade, 1.9-meter diameter
Space Suit Requirements
Due to the aircraft's lightweight design, the cockpit lacks pressurization. Pilots must wear specialized space suits weighing 12 kilograms to protect against low air pressure, extreme cold, and provide necessary oxygen supply at high altitudes.
Strategic Importance and Future Goals
The SolarStratos mission aims to demonstrate the viability of solar-powered aviation even in challenging atmospheric conditions. The project's ultimate goal is to explore the stratosphere, which begins at approximately 10-15 kilometers altitude and extends up to 50 kilometers.
Environmental Significance
This achievement represents a significant milestone in sustainable aviation technology. Solar-powered aircraft produce zero emissions during flight and could potentially revolutionize high-altitude research, telecommunications, and environmental monitoring applications.
The record is currently undergoing official verification by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports and aeronautical world records.
