Cal Poly Aerospace Professor Leads Record-Setting High-Altitude Flight
On October 28, 2025, Cal Poly aerospace engineering professor Paulo Iscold directed a high-altitude flight test that sent a lightweight Carbon Cub UL to 37,609 feet above California’s Central Coast. The flight surpassed the previous altitude record for Cub-style airplanes set in 1951.
The aircraft departed San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport at 9:55 a.m. and reached its peak altitude after approximately an hour of climbing through temperatures near minus 51 degrees Fahrenheit. Test pilot Jon Kotwicki conducted the flight, with Iscold acting as project manager and flight test lead.
Educational Value and Teamwork
Iscold used the flight as an interactive learning experience for his aerospace students, who listened live as he coordinated with the pilot and air traffic control.
“Teaching by doing, together is what we want them to experience,” Iscold said. “These were airline pilots on the frequency, and students listened to all of it, live.”
Breaking Historic Benchmarks
Though the flight was not filed as an official Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) record attempt, it exceeded both the 30,203-foot mark set by aviator Caro Bayley in a Piper Super Cub in 1951 and the ultralight record of 35,062 feet achieved in 1996. Cal Poly students witnessed a rare, hands-on demonstration of a classic bush-plane operating in the upper atmosphere.
“This is my 17th aviation record, and it was one of the most fun to go after,” Iscold said.
Summary
The 2025 Cal Poly high-altitude test led by Paulo Iscold reached 37,609 feet, offering students a live, record-setting demonstration of learning through aviation in action.