SION, Switzerland - Another air record has been (unofficially) broken as a prop-driven solar/electric aircraft reached the highest altitude yet for its type. On August 12, 2025, a modified Elektra One reached 31,237 feet (9,521 m) in the skies over Switzerland, David Szondy writes for New Atlas. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
1 October 2025 - A modified Elektra One glider, registered HB-SXA, reached 31,237 feet over Switzerland in a five-hour flight powered entirely by solar energy. The ultralight aircraft weighs about 450 kilograms and features an 81.4-foot wingspan fitted with solar panels that drive a 43-bhp electric motor operating at roughly 90 percent efficiency. A 20-kWh lithium-ion battery serves as a backup, enabling endurance of up to 24 hours in favorable conditions.
Designed as a powered glider, the aircraft relies on thermals and updrafts to reach higher altitudes with limited power output. To save weight and simplify the design, the cockpit is unpressurized, requiring the pilot to wear a pressure suit during high-altitude operations.
The SolarStratos program aims to push even higher, with a long-term goal of reaching near-stratospheric altitudes of about 82,000 feet. This latest record marks a key step in demonstrating how solar-electric propulsion could expand the horizons of clean aviation.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
