Three officially ratified world records, a legendary medal, a documentary premiered in Yverdon and Paris, and an institutional partner renewing its trust in us. October was a particularly momentous month in the SolarStratos adventure.
15 October: three world records officially ratified
9,640 metres. That is the altitude to which Raphaël Domjan flew SolarStratos on 12 August 2025, taking off from Sion Airport. After several months of meticulous verification, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has officially ratified three records:
1. Altitude in the solar-powered aeroplane category
2. Altitude gain in the same category
3. Altitude in an electric aeroplane, class C-1b*
Along the way, SolarStratos surpassed the 9,235 metres reached by Solar Impulse in 2010, until now the benchmark for a crewed solar aircraft.
* In the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’s classification, class C-1b covers electric-powered aeroplanes with a maximum take-off weight not exceeding 1,000 kg. With an empty weight of 450 kg, SolarStratos falls squarely within this category.
14 October: the Louis Blériot Medal
In Lausanne, the FAI presented Raphaël Domjan with the prestigious Louis Blériot Medal. Established in 1936 in honour of the French aviation pioneer, it recognises outstanding achievements in aeronautics. For the whole team, it is recognition of more than ten years of research, testing and perseverance. A huge thank-you to everyone who has been with us on this adventure from the very beginning.
Presence Switzerland renews its commitment
More good news this month: Presence Switzerland is renewing its commitment to us as an institutional partner. This valuable support strengthens the project’s national and international reach and backs our mission to fly the flag for Swiss innovation.
Premieres with Osons Causer
Meanwhile, the PlanetSolar Foundation unveiled its new documentary on solar energy, made in collaboration with Osons Causer, the French team well known on YouTube for making complex topics accessible to all. The film invites viewers to take a fresh look at the potential of solar power and at the renewable solutions already available today.
Two premieres marked the month of October:
- Yverdon-les-Bains, 7 October, at Explorit
- Paris, 20 October, at the Maison de l’Océan, with the support of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco
Two cities, one sun, one shared conviction: renewable energy is not a promise for tomorrow; it is already delivering concrete solutions today. The documentary will be available on Osons Causer’s YouTube channel in early November.
Next stop: the stratosphere
These records are not an end in themselves. Our goal remains unchanged: to reach the stratosphere aboard a crewed electric and solar-powered aircraft, without a single drop of fossil fuel. Thank you to our partners, our teams, our patrons and everyone who is carrying this adventure forward with us.
