Electric Aircraft

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s “eSpirit” electric aircraft has reached the taxi-test stage after four years of development. The Diamond HK-36-based project, dubbed eSpirit of St. Louis as a nod to Charles Lindbergh’s “notion of balance between aviation and the environment,” is a testbed for students and faculty to develop a unique electric propulsion system.  According to […]

Aerospace electric propulsion systems company magniX has announced that it is moving its global headquarters from Redmond to Everett, Washington. According to the company, it also plans to relocate all of its Australia and Redmond operations to Everett, which boasts a new 40,000-square-foot engineering, manufacturing and testing facility. magniX says consolidating operations has “resulted in […]

Recognizing that most A&P schools have little to nothing to say about electric aircraft, Pipistrel, which is currently building the Velis Electro two-seater, has launched its own five-day training course for mechanics. Pipistrel’s intention is to train the trainers, so to speak, so that they, in turn, can train local maintenance personnel as the Velis […]

In partnership with Hawaii-based Mokulele Airlines, Ampaire has completed the first demonstration flight using its hybrid-electric Electric EEL on an established airline route. For the demonstration, the aircraft made a round-trip flight from Hawaii’s Kahului Airport (OGG) to Hana (HNM) and back on a single charge. Ampaire intends to fly the route regularly as part […]

The propeller designs for NASA’s all-electric X-57 Maxwell have now undergone two weeks of wind tunnel testing, the agency said on Monday. The propeller assemblies, supplied by California-based contractor Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero), logged 14 hours of powered operation during testing with wind speeds up to around 90 knots. The tests took place at the […]

Italy-based aircraft manufacturer Tecnam has announced that it will partner with Rolls-Royce to develop an all-electric passenger aircraft. According to the company, the twin-motor “P-Volt” will be designed for short- and medium-range commuter routes along with cargo, medical evacuation and special mission operations. The commuter version is expected to carry up to nine passengers. “TECNAM […]

Electric aviation company Ampaire took its hybrid-electric Electric EEL prototype on a 341-statute-mile test flight this week. The trip, which the company is calling “the longest flight to date for any commercially relevant aircraft employing electric propulsion,” went from California’s Camarillo Airport (CMA) to Hayward Executive Airport (HWD). The flight lasted 2 hours and 32 […]

Rolls-Royce announced on Thursday that it has completed ground testing on the propulsion technology for a demonstrator aircraft designed to be the “world’s fastest all-electric plane.” Testing was conducted on the company’s “ionBird” test airframe, which is a full-scale replica of the aircraft’s core. The project is part of the Rolls-Royce’s “Accelerating the Electrification of […]

California-based electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second hybrid-electric technology demonstrator for the first time last week. Ampaire’s “Electric EEL” is a converted Cessna 337 Skymaster powered by tail-mounted 310-horsepower Continental IO-550 and a 200kW—limited to 120 kW—electric motor in the nose. In partnership with Mokulele Airlines and climate change solutions company Elemental Excelerator, Ampaire […]

Texas Aircraft Manufacturing has announced that it is developing a fully electric aircraft based on its Colt S-LSA design. Development of the eColt is being conducted in partnership with lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology company OXIS Energy. The aircraft’s key airframe and power components will be manufactured in Brazil with design and development taking place at […]