Electric

At a deserted drop test range outside Henderson, Nevada, in late February 2021, Aviation Safety Resources, Inc. (ASR), successfully completed the first developmental test of its whole-aircraft parachute recovery system for Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2, the first in the company’s eFlyer family of FAA Part 23-certified all-electric aircraft. “This was the first in a series […]

With the increased global focus on green energy and the introduction of a variety of hybrid-electric aircraft, Honeywell Aerospace has announced the development of a turbogenerator that would power electric motors for such products. The unit is specifically designed to supply the high-powered electric motors and to recharge the batteries of urban mobility aircraft, such […]

Surf Air Mobility says it’s acquiring Ampaire and its hybrid electric powertrain technology as a critical component of Surf Air Mobility’s plans “to improve the affordability, accessibility, and environmental footprint of regional aviation travel.” Surf Air Mobility added in a news release that “Ampaire is currently creating hybrid electric powertrains for existing popular aircraft, aimed […]

NEBOair, a UK-based electric transport company, announced this week that Pipistrel’s Velis Electro has received UK CAA certification. The company plans to use the all-electric, two-seat airplane primarily for sightseeing flights and flight training, but also for its “micro airline” operations, transporting one customer at a time between London and the British Midlands. NEBOair representative […]

Joby Aviation has selected the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck—which first debuted in 2009—for its eVTOL aircraft, bringing proven avionics into the program to develop commercial operations—which it expects to launch by 2024. The G3000 avionics suite was selected in part for its lightweight, adaptable architecture and high-resolution displays. Garmin anticipates future development in the urban air mobility space, […]

With many concept aircraft failing to make it past the prototype stage, Bye Aerospace has made it to the next milestone with its electric aircraft program. The company started production on the first conforming eFlyer, Bye announced on January 26. Composites Universal Group, of Warren, Oregon, was selected to begin tooling and construction. “We continue to make advances in […]

California-based Archer, creating the world’s first all-electric airline, plans to collaborate with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to access the automobile giant’s low-cost supply chain, advanced composite material capabilities, and engineering and design experience. Archer will manufacture high-volume, composite, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with the intent of starting production in 2023. FCA, the parent company […]

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 […]

Daher, Safran, and Airbus announced on December 10 they had completed the preliminary design review phase for the consortium’s EcoPulse Demonstrator, which uses a distributed hybrid-electric propulsion system. The review “freezes” the aircraft’s configuration, and it positions the demonstrator for its next steps, which include mounting Safran motors in preparation for the first flight. The […]

Ampaire last month flew its Electric EEL aircraft on a 20-minute flight from Maui’s Kahului Airport across the island to Hana and back on a single battery charge. The company is now flying the route regularly in a one-month demonstration program with Hawai’i-based Mokulele Airlines, one of 15 airlines that signed a Letter of Interest […]