First trial of Farman Stratosphere monoplane . At the Toussus le Noble airfield near Paris , the monoplane was shown for the first time when M Lucien Coupet piloted the plane in a short flight . The plane is equipped with a 350 hp . Farman motor geared to a compressor , has 70 square metres surface , carrying 36 kilograms to the square metre . The cabin is airtight and at 5000 metres the pilot starts the first compressor , and at 15000 metres the pilot adds the third compressor . The pitch of the propellor is variable and each part has been tested in rarefield air . The motor is placed with the cylinders downwards to permit the use of large propellor . All the controls are inside the airtight cabin which is large enough to accomadate the pilot and the engineer . the final attempt to reach the Stratosphere will take place as soon as tests are complete . Left to right W Waseige , Chief engineer of the Farman works , M Fisher , Henry Farman , Lucien Coupet , the pilot and M Giraud , second pilot and mechanic , before the plane . 22 July 1932