Heading into September for a campaign with multiple ambitions
Dear partners, friends and enthusiasts,
After a second campaign rich in firsts, the SolarStratos team is preparing for a particularly busy month of September. New flights, exceptional guests, technical developments and unprecedented prospects: here are the main highlights of what lies ahead.
A new flight campaign from September 7 to 11
The next flight campaign will take place from September 7 to 11 in Payerne, with a program structured around four main areas:
Photo and video flight
A photo and video flight will be carried out using a helicopter, allowing us to capture unprecedented images of SolarStratos in flight, while also training our teams for this type of mission alongside professional partners.
Two-seater altitude flight
A two-seater altitude flight will then be used to test the complete discharge of the batteries, in order to precisely measure the energy actually available on board. This is essential data for the aircraft’s future developments.
New attempt at a speed record
Following our unofficial performance during the previous campaign (an average of 136.6 km/h), the goal this time is to carry out this test flight at a lower altitude and in a more stable atmosphere. Indeed, we need to maintain the same altitude throughout the entire duration of the record flight.
A symbolic flight with Fred To
One of the highlights of this campaign will be welcoming aboard Fred To, the British pioneer who designed and built Solar One, the very first solar-powered aircraft in history. Together with his partner David Williams, he achieved the first autonomous flight of this aircraft on December 19, 1978, at Lasham Airfield in England.
The purpose of this flight is to allow Fred To to witness the performance differences between the very first solar aircraft in history and today’s aircraft.
Toward high-altitude flights without a pressurized suit
Alongside our operational flights, we are exploring a new technological path with LD Switzerland, a company specialized in positive-pressure oxygen systems that allow reaching very high altitudes.
The current altitude flight record without a pressurized cabin or suit was set by French pilot Georges Détré, who reached 48,698 ft (14,843 m) on August 14, 1936, aboard a Potez 506.
Thank you to everyone who continues to believe in this adventure. Every milestone achieved is thanks to you.
See you very soon,
The SolarStratos team
