Electric Cars on the Tarmac
After the “Planzer electric truck vs. solar-electric plane” challenge at the end of June, it was Genesis, another official partner of the SolarStratos mission, that took to the tarmac at Payerne Airport on July 5. The day featured breathtaking acceleration runs, all under the banner of electric mobility for a more sustainable world. Meanwhile, our aircraft HB-SXA had a busy July marked by notable flights — first a transfer to Sion, then a spectacular flight over the Matterhorn — all in preparation for the altitude record attempt with a manned solar-electric aircraft. Although the attempt couldn’t be made this summer, The Financial Times already featured it on the front page! Ready for a suspenseful August?
Perfect Transfer Flight
The transfer flight from Payerne to Sion, via the Sanetsch Pass, went flawlessly on July 10. Social media lit up with beautiful photos by Fred Fritzy, notably showing HB-SXA with the Château de Tourbillon in the background. The media coverage was also impressive, including features in Le Nouvelliste and on Canal9 | Kanal9 TV.
The Matterhorn Steals the Show
The power of imagery, the impact of the message! On Friday, July 18, Raphaël Domjan flew around the Matterhorn at the controls of HB-SXA. This preparatory flight yielded iconic images of the SolarStratos aircraft soaring on solar power in front of the legendary mountain. The flight made a strong impression far and wide: the photo of the day, picked up by major Swiss media outlets, was even published on the front page of The Financial Times Weekend! When it comes to showcasing the potential of solar energy, it doesn’t get much better than that.
When the Weather Says No…
The July 18 flight over the Matterhorn lifted spirits and gave the team a boost. Everyone was ready to continue with the final calibration flights at FL 250 (just over 7,600 meters), ahead of the attempt at 10,000 meters. But then… Except that Mother Nature threw us a curveball… : rain and wind grounded Raphaël Domjan and HB-SXA in the following days. Just take a look at the MeteoSwiss forecast for Saturday, July 27 — it’s almost unbelievable: nothing but gray skies. But hang in there — August will shine even brighter. And the record? Still within reach!
“Thank You, Sun!”
This brief setback with the weather hasn’t stopped solar energy from… skyrocketing! Raphaël Domjan shared the good news: in June 2025, for the first time ever on the European continent, solar power generated more electricity than nuclear, wind, or gas! A historic milestone. “A shift is underway: solar, once marginal, is now forcing a full-on paradigm change. We’re no longer burning raw materials to produce energy. We’re entering a world where energy is transformed — with nothing burned — at unprecedented efficiency,” said the pilot and founder of SolarStratos, concluding with a heartfelt, “Thank you, my sun.” Trying to fly up to 10,000 meters powered solely by sunlight gives the message even more weight.
