Pilot Claims Altitude Record for Electric Solar Plane

Swiss Pilot Claims Altitude Record in Solar-Powered Plane

A Swiss pilot has claimed the altitude record for a solar-powered electric plane, reports CBS News . Raphael Domjan, 53, took off from Sion airport in Switzerland on Tuesday and reached the height of 9,521 meters—31,237 feet—in his SolarStratos aircraft, according to a statement from his team....

Pilot Claims Altitude Record for Electric Solar Plane

A Swiss pilot claims to have broken the more than 15-year-old altitude record for electric, solar-powered aircraft. Raphaël Domjan on Tuesday flew an electric plane propelled by solar cells, registered HB-SXA, to an altitude of 9,521 meters, or over 31,200 feet, according to his SolarStratos project. At that altitude, SolarStratos said, Domjan soared over the Swiss Alps and even crossed paths with a commercial airliner. “Up there, facing the sun…