Electric Aircraft

One of the most common questions I received in the nearly seven years I was editor in chief at KITPLANES® was, “Why don’t you ever cover electric aircraft?” The answer we always gave was something like, “Well, when there is an aircraft that can be built by the average amateur that can carry more than one […]

Garmin announced on Thursday that it will be providing its G3000 integrated flight deck for Heart Aerospace’s ES-19 all-electric airliner design. According to Garmin, the G3000 system that will be featured on the ES-19 will offer “enhanced capabilities to optimize the aircraft’s electric drive train and battery management systems” along with being designed to facilitate […]

Florida Tech has announced that it has become the first U.S. university to own and fly an electric aircraft with the acquisition of a Pipistrel Velis Electro. While the model is not yet FAA-certified, the university intends to use the aircraft to “give students the opportunity for experiential research with cutting edge technology.” According to […]

Embraer has announced that it is beginning the first flight test campaign for its all-electric demonstrator aircraft. According to the company, early flights will primarily be evaluating the aircraft’s power, performance, control, thermal management and operational safety. Testing will take place at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo, Brazil. “The first flight of an […]

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has announced plans to hold a cross-country air race for electric aircraft. According to the association, the 1,000-NM cross-country race will be a resumption of the Pulitzer air races first held in the early 1920s with the winner to be awarded the Pulitzer Trophy. The Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Air Race, […]

BendixKing has signed an agreement with electric aircraft developer Eviation to install the AeroVue Touch flight display in the all-electric Alice aircraft. The display will feature the Honeywell SmartView synthetic vision system along with the standard moving map, aeronautical charts, traffic and weather and vertical situation display. Alice will also make use of Honeywell’s compact […]

Surf Air Mobility has signed a purchase agreement with Textron Aviation for up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprops. The initial order covers 100 aircraft with an option for an additional 50, all subject to Surf Air Mobility obtaining financing. The deal is part of a larger collaboration between the two companies aimed […]

In partnership with Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Mesa Airlines, United Airlines Ventures (UAV) has signed a conditional agreement to acquire 100 ES-19 all-electric airliners from Sweden-based electric aircraft startup Heart Aerospace. The agreement is contingent on the aircraft, which is still in the early stages of development, meeting United’s “safety, business and operating requirements.” […]

Electric aircraft developer Eviation has unveiled the production configuration for its all-electric Alice aircraft. The Alice is powered by two magniX magni650 electric propulsion units, equipped with a single-volume, high-energy density battery system “made from currently available battery cells” and outfitted with a Honeywell fly-by-wire system. The aircraft will be capable of carrying nine passengers […]

If you’ve attended any electric aircraft symposiums in the last decade, you would be forgiven for thinking Slovenia must be a land of budding geniuses. Pipistrel, the Slovenian electric aviation pioneer run by the father/daughter team of CEO Ivo and Taja Boscarol, wins European Union awards for its green operation, pulling enough solar-generated power from the skies […]