Airbus E-Fan Makes Successful English Channel Flight

Shayla Silva

Friday, July 10, 2015 at 09:45 PM ET

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Airbus Group

Key Takeaways:

Airbus Group's E-Fan electric aircraft successfully crossed the English Channel in 38 minutes, mirroring a historic flight from 106 years ago.
The E-Fan used its onboard lithium-ion battery system for the flight, reaching a cruise altitude of 3,500 feet.
The achievement immediately sparked controversy regarding who holds the "first" title for an electric Channel crossing.
This controversy arose because Pipistrel was prevented from attempting a crossing, and French pilot Hugues Duval completed the same flight in his Cri Cri electric aircraft hours before Airbus.

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Airbus Group’s E-Fan demonstrator was able to successfully cross the English Channel on Friday morning, mirroring Louis Blériot’s historical flight nearly 106 years ago. But the record flight is already proving controversial.

Taking off from Lydd Airport in southern England, the twin-fan electric airplane completed the flight in 38 minutes, reaching a cruise altitude of 3,500 feet. Pilot and E-Fan designer Didier Esteyne was at the controls for the flight.