Rolls-Royce’s All-Electric ‘Spirit of Innovation’ Takes First Flight

FLYING Staff

Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 04:48 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Rolls-Royce's all-electric "Spirit of Innovation" aircraft successfully completed its maiden 15-minute flight in the UK.
The plane is powered by a 400kW electric powertrain featuring the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft, developed under the ACCEL program.
This initiative aims to create the world's fastest zero-emission plane and gather crucial data for decarbonizing air transport, with potential applications for Urban Air Mobility.
Partially funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute, the project aligns with Rolls-Royce's commitment to developing net-zero emission products by 2030.

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Rolls-Royce is celebrating the first flight of its all-electric “Spirit of Innovation” aircraft.