On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 03:58:26 -0000, Jim Logajan
wrote in :

Larry Dighera wrote:
http://www.teslamotors.com/

The world altitude record for propeller-driven aircraft belongs not to one
powered by an internal combustion engine but by...

... a solar electric powered aircraft!

Specifically the NASA Pathfinder planes:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/n...-034-DFRC.html

"During 1998, the Pathfinder was modified into the longer-winged
Pathfinder-Plus configuration. On Aug. 6, 1998, the modified aircraft was
flown to a record altitude of 80,201 feet for propeller-driven aircraft on
the third of a series of developmental test flights from PMRF on Kaua'i."

Yes. We have discussed MacCready's work here in the past. It was
unmanned, and structurally questionable in the name of extreme weight
reduction, but it was able to remain aloft for extended periods, IIRC.