Trending 
Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan came within approximately a thousand metres of establishing a new altitude record in a solar-powered aircraft on Sunday, as he aims to surpass the 10,000 metre mark.
The self-proclaimed eco-explorer, aged 53, elevated the SolarStratos electric plane to a height of 8,224 metres during a flight that lasted about four and a half hours, according to his team, after he safely returned to Sion airport located in southwestern Switzerland.
The existing altitude record for a solar-powered aircraft is 9,235 metres, achieved in 2010 by the Solar Impulse experimental aeroplane, piloted by Swiss aviator Andre Borschberg.
Domjan’s goal is to reach 10,000 metres or higher, flying at an altitude comparable to commercial airliners. A preliminary flight on July 31 reached 6,589 metres, marking the highest record for SolarStratos to date.
An attempt made on Friday was aborted when the rising warm air thermals necessary for the ascent did not develop, leading Domjan to return to conserve battery charge for the more favourable conditions on Sunday.
The second attempt of the season on Sunday achieved a new altitude record for the two-seater SolarStratos, which is outfitted with advanced solar panels spanning an impressive 24.8 metres in wingspan.
The slowly charging aircraft will be left in the sunlight to recharge its batteries to full capacity in preparation for the next attempt.
