“We believe our all-electric, Spirit of Innovation aircraft is the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft.” Credit: Rolls-Royce
Key Takeaways:
Rolls-Royce's "Spirit of Innovation" all-electric aircraft provisionally set three new world speed records, awaiting official certification from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
The records include a top speed of 555.9 km/h (345.4 mph) over 3 kilometers, a maximum speed of 623 km/h (387.4 mph), and the fastest climb to 3,000 meters in 202 seconds.
These achievements significantly surpass previous records, demonstrating the rapid advancement in electric flight technology.
The aircraft is powered by a 400kW electric powertrain and the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft, with potential applications for urban air mobility.
Rolls-Royce is awaiting official certification that it has set three new world speed records for all-electric aircraft.
Last week, engineers clocked its single-engine, electric research plane at a top speed of 555.9 km/h (345.4 mph) over 3 kilometers, which, if certified, would crush the existing record by 213.04 km/h (132 mph).
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
