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 inaugural 9-minute flight from Moses Lake, Washington, marking a significant milestone for electric aviation.
Designed for regional passenger and cargo flights, *Alice* aims to offer a cleaner, quieter, and more economical alternative to traditional turboprops, with a target entry into service by 2025.
The project faced multiple development challenges, including delays, a runway excursion, and leadership changes, highlighting the complexities of pioneering new aviation technology.
*Alice*'s unique design integrates a substantial battery system as a structural component, aiming to revolutionize regional air travel by enabling more direct routes and reducing reliance on hub airports.

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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.