Israeli startup EViation is planning a clean-slate aircraft design to carry six to nine passengers, plus crew, on legs up to 600 miles in length, with exclusively electric propulsion. The three-motor design puts one tractor-prop on each wingtip, with one pusher on the tail. EViation’s engineers hope locating propellers on each wingtip will reduce induced drag, while simultaneously reducing the size of flight surfaces used for yaw control. “At a time when we are more connected than ever, our mobility options must adapt to reflect this new, efficient future,” said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of EViation Aircraft. “Whether it is a zero-emissions, low-cost trip from Silicon Valley to San Diego, or Seoul to Beijing, our all-electric aircraft represents a chance for people to move with the speed and impact our global economy now demands.”
Although the company reports the aircraft prototype can be viewed on static display at the Paris Air Show, a press release depicts only a computer rendering. EViation says the aircraft design faces “zero regulatory hurdles,” though in the United States, there is no system yet in place to certificate a non-experimental electric aircraft. The company says they expect to start commercial flights as early as 2021.
