The SolarStratos, a sleek, white two-seater aircraft with long wings covered with 237 sq ft of solar panels, is set to become the first manned solar plane to make a stratospheric flight, according to Raphael Domjan, who is behind the project.
“Our goal is to demonstrate that current technology offers us the possibility to achieve above and beyond what fossil fuels offer,” he said, after unveiling the plane at the Payerne airbase.
Our goal is to demonstrate that current technology offers us the possibility to achieve above and beyond what fossil fuels offer
“Electric and solar vehicles are amongst the major challenges of the 21st century,” he said, adding that the SolarStratos “can fly at an altitude of 25,000 metres”.
SolarStratos is scheduled to begin test flights next February, while medium altitude flights
are planned for next summer, and the first stratospheric flights should take place in 2018, the statement said. To keep down the weight, the plane will not be pressurised, and Domjan will wear a spacesuit, also powered by solar energy, which will also mark a world first, it added.
The statement also claimed the craft could “reach space”.
