Eviation’s 'Alice' Electric Demonstrator Flies for the First Time

Can this sleek, T-tail, electric twin change the regional airline industry?

Thom Patterson and Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 10:32 AM ET

Verified

Eviation’s Alice, based in Arlington, Washington, breaking away on its inaugural flight. [Photo: David Honan]

Key Takeaways:

Eviation's all-electric demonstrator aircraft, "Alice," successfully completed its maiden 9-minute flight in Moses Lake, Washington.
Designed for regional cargo and passenger use, Alice aims for FAA certification by 2025, offering a cleaner and potentially cheaper alternative to turboprops.
The sleek, carbon-fiber aircraft is powered by twin magniX650 electric motors, with its large battery system structurally integrated into the design.
Its successful deployment could revolutionize regional air travel by enabling new routes and reducing reliance on hub airports, though it requires significant charging and maintenance infrastructure development.

See a mistake? Contact us.

After months of ground testing and anticipation, Eviation’s sleek, electric airplane demonstrator—dubbed Alice—flew for the first time Tuesday, taking off from Grant County International Airport (KMWH) in Moses Lake, Washington, west of Spokane.

Along the ramp at the Moses Lake airport, more than a dozen journalists waited for the sun to rise around 6:50 a.m., and for the aircraft to take flight. The morning sky grew pink, with scattered clouds at about 4,000 feet agl, revealing a line of hangars and buildings that looked like a string of pearls along the runway. The morning air was crisp and cool, in the 50s Fahrenheit, with a very light breeze of about 2 knots.