There are more solutions than obstacles, Nicolas Zart
Solar flights over the Matterhorn
I’ve followed Raphaël Domjan’s adventures into solar stratosphere flights for a decade. After years of writing about the project, I met Raphaël last year in Paris at the Paris Air Show. And what a terrific person he is. He is everything I felt he exuded from his articles.
SolarStratus: To the Stratosphere with Sunlight
If you don’t know about SolaStratos, the project reads right out of an adventurer’s quest for breaking records. How about flying to the stratosphere and solar plane with the help of hydrogen? These types of adventures are far and few these days. I invite you to check out their websites and follow this amazing solar journey to the stratosphere.
The SolarStratos mission is based in the Alpark hangar in Sion, Switzerland as of 18 July 2024. The team has been conducting test flights in preparation for the imminent world record attempt. Every new flight confirms and optimizes parameters. With a breathtaking view of the Alpine mountains, “It’s fantastic to be flying on solar power alone over the Alps,” said Raphaël Domjan. The uncanny ability and joy of returning to the landing strip while continuing to charge the batteries breathes new life into the mission’s message of harnessing the formidable potential of solar energy for a low-carbon, more sustainable world where we can continue to dream and fly. High up. Hang on tight!
A Successful Transfer Flight
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the flights were postponed twice. However, on 18 July, the third attempt yielded success. The electric solar-hydrogen HB-SXA aircraft piloted by Raphaël Domjan took off from Payerne and headed to Sion via the Col de Sanetsch. The e-plane was welcomed at the Valais airport by a media group that captured the amazing landing live. You can watch it here. Raphaël Domjan was also a guest on Channel 9.
Over the Matterhorn and Mont Fort in Electric Quiet Flight!
On July 19, a day after arriving in Sion, the HB-SXA flew around the Matterhorn. The resulting images of SolarStratos flying past this extraordinary landmark are powerful and highly symbolic. On July 26, Raphaël Domjan set a course for Verbier, Mont Fort, and Pierre Avoi to ride the thermals. He flew for an hour and forty minutes up to an altitude of 3,970 m. They were rewarded with exhilarating images of the solar-powered flight!
The record attempt has caught media attention
Finally, the preparations for the altitude record attempt caught the attention of the German media in Switzerland, reporting on the risks and challenges involving the record attempt. Please click here to watch the French SwissInfo video and here for La Presse.
One Step Closer to the Stratosphere!
To test the aircraft in the thermals, the SolarStratos team enlisted the help of forecasting engineers and an experienced glider pilot, Aude Untersee. With the assistance of a reconnaissance motor glider to help with finding the updrafts usual in the summertime, Domjan maximized these updrafts for top altitude, range, and engine power performance. He refined the tests and the team carried out another flight around the Matterhorn passing from one thermal to another on the 30 July.
As of next, the team continues to work on preparing the aircraft to meet all the safety parameters for this very high-altitude flight. Stay tuned for more…