We did it ! Over 9,500 Meters

The Record-Breaking Flight of August 12 is Making Global Headlines

On August 12, 2025, SolarStratos turned a new page in aviation history. Taking off from Sion, Raphaël Domjan and the solar-electric aircraft HB-SXA soared to an altitude of over 9,500 meters, setting a new record for the highest manned solar-powered electric flight ever achieved. This milestone crowns years of preparation and more than a hundred test flights. The achievement has captured international attention—and the impact continues to spread across the globe.
It’s a fitting reward for all the effort, and we are thrilled to share the joy of this moment with our friends, partners, and sponsors—led by our main partner Longines, with Bordier & Cie and Bitcoin Suisse AG. Without them, without you, without Roland Loos, our CTO and tireless supporter, and without the passionate team behind this mission, this feat would never have been possible. Thank you for flying with us. Thank you for helping us promote a solar-electric, decarbonized world—where dreams still take flight, and the vision of Icarus can finally be realized, sustainably.

Timeline of a Triumph—Topped with Raclette

On July 31, the eve of Switzerland’s National Day, SolarStratos climbed to 21,618 feet (6,589 m) above the Swiss Alps and the Matterhorn—a new record for the aircraft. On August 8 and then again on August 10, HB-SXA broke its own record twice, reaching 8,377 meters—flights already picked up by international media, including the front page of the Financial Times Weekend. Then, on Tuesday, August 12, in a historic flight lasting 5 hours and 9 minutes, powered by sunlight and rising thermals, Raphaël Domjan climbed above 9,500 meters, surpassing Solar Impulse’s 9,235-meter milestone.

“We did it!”. The flight is now being submitted for official certification by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which will validate the final altitude corrected to ISA standard atmosphere. A moment of high emotion for the whole team—celebrated the Swiss way, over a well-deserved raclette!

“I Crossed Paths with a Commercial Airliner”

During the record-breaking flight, Domjan experienced an unforgettable moment: “Up there, I crossed paths with a commercial airliner flying at FL300. When air traffic control informed the crew I was a solar plane, I wish I could have seen their reaction! They didn’t respond… But for me, it was pure magic.” A scene symbolic of SolarStratos’ message: Solar energy can take us as high as airliners— and even higher. Beyond where fossil fuels can burn, solar energy keeps electric motors running.

Jubilation in Motion

To relive and share the jubilation of this flight, filmmaker Stéphane Chopard has created a video montage, released earlier this week—and we’re proud to share it with you here. We hope it sends shivers down your spine, as it did ours.

Teamwork and Team Spirit

This record was the product of extraordinary teamwork. From Cindy da Silva to intern Hugo Peyrot, from General Michaël Stähli to test pilot Gérald Ducoin, everyone played a vital role. Engineer and pilot Jean-Baptiste Loiselet, ever humble, made a crucial contribution: “My modest role was to scout the route with my motorglider just before HB-SXA’s flight, using my experience with the Sol.Ex to help chart an optimal path.” He also salutes his colleagues at the Mission Control Center, who monitored everything in real time—from solar input to energy consumption—as well as local soaring expert Gabriel Cachin and the rest of the team: Roland Loos, Nadia Keller, Stéphane Chopard, Giovanni Sammali, Olivier de Sybourg, Alexis Domjan, our test pilot Gérald Ducoin and many others who supported the pilot, founder, and driving force of this mission—Raphaël Domjan, a man with more than one trip around the world under his belt.

From Montréal to Tahiti – Via the Financial Times

Immersed in the project, focused on success, and confident in its impact, we were still taken aback by the scale of the reaction. Stunned, even. Media from across the world picked up the story. As we had hoped, HB-SXA becoming the highest-flying electric solar aircraft in history left a powerful impression. The earlier record attempts had already paved the way—especially with the iconic photo of HB-SXA flying in front of the Matterhorn, featured on the cover of the Financial Times Weekend. Never before have so many TV stations covered SolarStratos: BFM-TV, France24, GB News, and of course RTS—with RAI soon to follow after filming a segment in Sion. Thank you to all the media outlets for your support and interest.