The popularity as well as the utility of Cessna’s Caravans—operating on both land and sea—is well known, with nearly 3,000 having been produced since the model series was introduced nearly 40 years ago. It makes sense, then, that a number of companies chose the Caravan as the platform around which to create a supplemental type certificate to power aircraft electrically. MagniX and Australian companies Sydney Seaplanes and Dante Aeronautical recently announced their partnership to do just that. If all goes as planned, their version of the Caravan could become the first electric-powered airplane certified by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
An Electrically Powered Cessna Caravan Continues Progress
Key Takeaways:
- MagniX, Sydney Seaplanes, and Dante Aeronautical are partnering to develop an electric Cessna Caravan, aiming for certification as Australia's first electric aircraft by Q1 2023.
- MagniX has a proven track record in electric aviation, having successfully flown the world’s first commercial all-electric aircraft (eBeaver) and the largest all-electric commercial aircraft (Cessna 208B Grand Caravan).
- The electric propulsion system demonstrated a "graceful degradation" capability during testing, maintaining partial power despite an inverter failure, which offers a safety advantage over a complete engine shutdown.
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