Now that Harbour Air’s electric de Havilland Beaver has completed a full-power static runup, and installed all its battery management and other new systems, the crew needs little more than Transport Canada’s signature on the test flight permits in order to launch. The company expects the airplane to slip into the water at Vancouver Harbour for its first proof-of-concept flight next Wednesday at the company’s Richmond, British Columbia, facility (YVR).
Harbour Air’s Electric de Havilland Beaver To Fly Next Week
Key Takeaways:
- Harbour Air is set to conduct the world's first test flight of an all-electric de Havilland Beaver seaplane next Wednesday, following its conversion to a 750-hp magni500 propulsion system.
- This inaugural flight marks a key step in Harbour Air's long-term strategy to convert its entire 53-aircraft fleet of seaplanes to electric power, aiming for emission-free operations.
- While current battery technology offers a 100-nm range, suitable for their short-range business model, the company still needs to navigate Transport Canada's lack of an existing certification process for electric aircraft.
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