At the bustling SolarStratos base in Payerne, the electric solar aircraft is undergoing meticulous preparation ahead of its annual inspection by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Every surface, every component, every detail is checked, adjusted and optimized to ensure the aircraft meets regulatory requirements in the best possible conditions. A crucial milestone \u2014 and above all, the real starting point of an ambitious new season.<\/p>\n
Beyond this regulatory step, the technical teams are fully mobilized around the final adjustments and optimizations of the aircraft. The winglets are receiving targeted interventions, while several improvements are underway to further enhance aerodynamic and energy performance. The goal: turning every detail into a decisive advantage and making ground preparation the first lever for in\u2011flight performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach season is a new step toward the stratosphere. We\u2019re not just trying to fly \u2014 we want to demonstrate that solar\u2011electric aviation can push established limits,\u201d<\/em> says Rapha\u00ebl Domjan, Pilot and CEO of SolarStratos.<\/p>\n \u201cFlying is never an end in itself. Every takeoff is a technological validation, every hour in the air a tangible proof of reliability, energy efficiency and operational mastery. We advance step by step, with rigor and humility, but with an unwavering ambition: to expand the realm of what\u2019s possible.<\/em><\/p>\n Solar\u2011electric aviation should no longer be seen as an experimental promise. It is a reality in the making. Our role is to prove that it can be high\u2011performing, measurable, reproducible, and capable of reaching goals previously reserved for conventional propulsion systems.<\/em> Once the FOCA inspection is completed, the aircraft will take to the skies again with three major objectives:<\/p>\n\n\t\t
\nPushing the limits means flying faster, flying higher, gathering more data \u2014 but also inspiring a new generation of engineers, pilots and decision\u2011makers. Each season brings us closer to a new standard for sustainable aviation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n