Three landmark moments
The entire SolarStratos team wishes you an inspiring and fulfilling 2025! Our year promises to be high-flying… and we have at least three landmark moments in store. First, the 10,000 m record attempt, which we hope will be successful this summer over the Swiss Alps. Then, PlanetSolar Foundation’s exhibition ‘Solar Pioneers’ which will be unveiled for the first time to the German-speaking public from April to October at Primeo Energie in Basel. And finally, the PlanetSolar II expedition, which will take on new heights at nearly 4,000 m above sea level on Lake Titicaca this summer. Ready to embark on the next chapter of our solar explorations? Let’s cast off!
Full maintenance in Germany
This winter our prototype solar electric aircraft, which has notched up over 100 flights, is undergoing comprehensive maintenance in Germany. This check-up is also an opportunity to implement improvements identified after the 2024 campaign over the Alps. Next month, HB-SXA will return from its health retreat at Elektra Solar in Germany equipped with two additional half-batteries, a refined variable-pitch propeller, and an enhanced horizontal stabilizer – fully prepared for the 10,000 m record attempt in the summer.
First conference of the year
Founder and pilot of SolarStratos, Raphaël Domjan is also a renowned lecturer. He gave his first lecture of the year 2025 at ESSEC Business School in front of a thousand students. They gave him great feedback: “ Their energy, optimism and ideas gave me immense hope. It was one of the first highlights of my year. Let’s build a better future together. ”
Online competition: and the winner is…
Have you entered our ongoing online competition, available on our website ? Every year a winner receives a prize, and in 2024 that person was Daryl, who achieved several top-10 performances with a top score of 17,900 points. He wins an exclusive flight in an electric aircraft with mission pilot Raphaël Domjan. We are delighted to welcome Daryl onboard for this unique experience, combining innovation with respect for the environment. Don’t miss out – the 2025 edition of the competition is now open!
‘Solar Pioneers’ auf Deutsch bitte!
“ Die Solarpioniere ”: the PlanetSolar Foundation exhibition featuring SolarStratos, will be presented for the first time in German-speaking Switzerland from April 16 to October, at Primeo Energie in Basel. And of course, auf Deutsch bitte! The exhibition has been translated to German and features an additional module with exciting new exhibits, such as the first solar-powered FM radio and one of the first photovoltaic cells in history. So, if you’re in Basel this year drop in!
A tribute to pioneer Jacques Bonvin
The Swiss solar energy pioneer and visionary Jacques Bonvin died recently in a tragic accident. He was the very first sponsor of Raphaël Domjan and his brother Alexis. Raphaël Domjan paid tribute to the co-founder of Solstis, who had supported them early on in the SolarStratos project: “At a time when we only had ideas and dreams, he trusted us, seeing in solar energy the power of the future, long before many realised its potential,” he said. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
