{"id":684088,"date":"2025-08-09T02:25:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T23:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T02:25:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T23:25:15","slug":"pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneer spirit drives Swiss solar-powered plane altitude attempt"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a402ea4a1182\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a402ea4a1182\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt\/#10000-meter_challenge\" >10,000-meter challenge<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt\/#Hanging_in_the_sky\" >Hanging in the sky<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/swiss-pilot-raphael-do.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/swiss-pilot-raphael-do.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan waved to friends and family prior to take-off.\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/swiss-pilot-raphael-do.jpg\" alt=\"Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan waved to friends and family prior to take-off\" title=\"Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan waved to friends and family prior to take-off.\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan waved to friends and family prior to take-off.<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan on Friday made his first attempt of the year at setting a new aviation record: reaching an altitude of 10,000 meters in a solar-powered airplane.<\/p>\n<p>The SolarStratos electric plane took off from Sion airport in the Rhone valley in southwestern Switzerland at 1:21pm, in the hope that conditions higher up would prove favorable for record-chasing.<\/p>\n<p>But it soon became clear that the rising warm air thermals Domjan needed to boost the ascent were not there, and it was better to save energy and try again another day\u2014all in the pioneer spirit, according to the adventurer.<\/p>\n<p>The wildfires in neighboring France were likely among the reasons why the forecast conditions had changed.<\/p>\n<p>Domjan touched down 38 minutes later, deciding to preserve the charge in the batteries with a view to another go on Sunday or Wednesday, when the baking hot conditions look more promising.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The flight was good but we didn&#8217;t find any thermals,&#8221; he told AFP after opening the cockpit and taking off his helmet, sweat rolling down his cheeks.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We really needed to find something to climb&#8230; the sun was there but not the thermal activities.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was clear that it would not work. We tried.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10000-meter_challenge\"><\/span>10,000-meter challenge<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/the-solarstratos-plane.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/the-solarstratos-plane.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"The SolarStratos plane has 22 square metres of solar panels on its wings.\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/the-solarstratos-plane.jpg\" alt=\"The SolarStratos plane has 22 square metres of solar panels on its wings\" title=\"The SolarStratos plane has 22 square metres of solar panels on its wings.\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                The SolarStratos plane has 22 square metres of solar panels on its wings.<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Domjan is aiming to get to 10,000 meters or beyond\u2014flying at the same altitude as airliners. Such a flight would take at least five hours.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s more difficult than expected,&#8221; said the 53-year-old, who describes himself as an &#8220;eco-explorer&#8221; committed to climate protection.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why we are the first to go there,&#8221; he said, adding: &#8220;We try because it&#8217;s difficult.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A warm-up flight on July 31 got to 6,589 meters\u2014the highest-ever for SolarStratos.<\/p>\n<p>The propeller plane, made of carbon fiber, is 9.6 meters (31 feet and six inches) long. It has a huge wingspan of 24.8 meters to accommodate the 22 square meters of high-spec solar panels topping the wings.<\/p>\n<p>The current altitude record for a solar plane stands at 9,235 meters, set in 2010 by the Solar Impulse experimental airplane, flown by Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/raphael-domjan-took-of.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/raphael-domjan-took-of.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Raphael Domjan took off to the sound of a traditional Swiss alphorn.\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/raphael-domjan-took-of.jpg\" alt=\"Raphael Domjan took off to the sound of a traditional Swiss alphorn\" title=\"Raphael Domjan took off to the sound of a traditional Swiss alphorn.\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Raphael Domjan took off to the sound of a traditional Swiss alphorn.<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll try and try until we go to 10,000 meters, or it&#8217;s the winter when there is no sun and we cannot try anymore,&#8221; said Domjan.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Domjan reached 1,769 meters but quickly decided there was no point draining the batteries looking for thermal currents that were not going to show.<\/p>\n<p>The slow-charging plane will be parked back out in the sun to fill the batteries for next time.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hanging_in_the_sky\"><\/span>Hanging in the sky<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Domjan&#8217;s mother was there to wave him off on his record attempt.<\/p>\n<p>After getting str<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ed into his emergency parachute and making a few last-minute notes on paper, Domjan strode towards his plane.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right, see you later,&#8221; he said before clambering into the cockpit.<\/p>\n<p>The hubbub in the hangar went quiet as he tested his oxygen mask, donned his helmet, checked his instruments and gave a farewell fist-bump before closing the canopy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/raphael-domjan-holds-h.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/raphael-domjan-holds-h.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Raphael Domjan holds his oxygen cylinder as the Swiss adventurer prepares to get into the SolarStratos plane.\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/raphael-domjan-holds-h.jpg\" alt=\"Raphael Domjan holds his oxygen cylinder as the Swiss adventurer prepares to get into the SolarStratos plane\" title=\"Raphael Domjan holds his oxygen cylinder as the Swiss adventurer prepares to get into the SolarStratos plane.\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Raphael Domjan holds his oxygen cylinder as the Swiss adventurer prepares to get into the SolarStratos plane.<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The plane taxied on the runway to the gentle sound of a traditional Swiss alphorn, with Sion&#8217;s Tourbillon Castle and Valere Basilica providing a striking backdrop.<\/p>\n<p>Almost im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely, SolarStratos was airborne, its slow movement giving it the impression of hanging in the sky as it drifted down the valley.<\/p>\n<p>The plane made several turns as it gradually climbed beyond the lower terraced vineyards, above the deep green pine trees, and then towards the snowless Alpine peaks piercing the clear blue sky.<\/p>\n<p>But Domjan found no rising thermals as he searched around Mont Gord\u2014and it was better to turn back.<\/p>\n<p>In 2012, Domjan became the first person to sail around the world in a fully solar-powered boat.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you want to be a pioneer, when you start you will never know if you will be a pioneer of success or a pioneer of failure,&#8221; he said, once back in the hangar on Friday.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"article-gallery js-article-gallery\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/the-solarstratos-plane-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/the-solarstratos-plane-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"The SolarStratos plane took off from Sion airport and flew down the Rhone valley.\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800\/2025\/the-solarstratos-plane-1.jpg\" alt=\"The SolarStratos plane took off from Sion airport and flew down the Rhone valley\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-low-up text-truncate mt-3\">\n                    The SolarStratos plane took off from Sion airport and flew down the Rhone valley.<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/pilot-raphael-domjan-t.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/pilot-raphael-domjan-t.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Pilot Raphael Domjan touched back down at Sion airport in Switzerland after trying to set an altitude record.\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800\/2025\/pilot-raphael-domjan-t.jpg\" alt=\"Pilot Raphael Domjan touched back down at Sion airport in Switzerland after trying to set an altitude record\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-low-up text-truncate mt-3\">\n                    Pilot Raphael Domjan touched back down at Sion airport in Switzerland after trying to set an altitude record.<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&#8220;To be a pioneer, an adventurer, it means trying something you are not sure will succeed.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The pioneer spirit for me, the spirit of adventure is to try something that nobody has tried before, and maybe you will not be able to reach success.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                \u00a9 2025 AFP\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Pioneer spirit drives Swiss solar-powered plane altitude attempt (2025, August 8)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 8 August 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-08-spirit-swiss-solar-powered-plane.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. 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Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-08-spirit-swiss-solar-powered-plane.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan waved to friends and family prior to take-off. Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan on Friday made his first attempt of the year at setting a new aviation record: reaching an altitude of 10,000 meters in a solar-powered airplane. The SolarStratos electric plane took off from Sion airport in the Rhone valley in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":684089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/swiss-pilot-raphael-do.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-684088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=684088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684088\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/684089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=684088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=684088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=684088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}