“We believe our all-electric, Spirit of Innovation aircraft is the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft.” Credit: Rolls-Royce
Key Takeaways:
Rolls-Royce's "Spirit of Innovation" electric aircraft is awaiting official certification for setting three new world speed records.
These records include a top speed of 555.9 km/h (345.4 mph) over 3 kilometers, shattering the previous record by 213.04 km/h (132 mph).
The aircraft also reached a maximum speed of 623 km/h (387.4 mph), achieved 532.1 km/h (330 mph) over 15 kilometers, and broke the fastest time to climb to 3,000 meters.
This achievement highlights significant advancements in electric flight technology, demonstrating the rapid pace of electrification in aerospace with potential applications for urban air mobility.
Rolls-Royce is awaiting official certification that it has set three new world speed records for all-electric aircraft.
Last week, engineers clocked its single-engine, electric research plane at a top speed of 555.9 km/h (345.4 mph) over 3 kilometers, which, if certified, would crush the existing record by 213.04 km/h (132 mph).
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
