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81-505: The Eviation Alice is an electric aircraft designed to accommodate nine passengers and two crew members. First developed in Israel , its construction incorporates 95% composite material , is powered by two electric motors , and has a T-tail . The prototype first flew on 27 September 2022. Eviation was founded in 2015 by Omer Bar-Yohay, Omri Regev and Aviv Tzidon. Risk-sharing partnerships have enabled work to go ahead. In February 2018,

162-546: A Diamond HK-36 Super Dimona motor glider as a research test bed for a hydrogen fuel cell powered light airplane. Successful flights took place in February and March 2008. The European Commission has financed many low TRL projects for innovative electric or hybrid propulsion aircraft. The ENFICA-FC is a project of the European Commission , to study and demonstrate an all-electric aircraft with fuel-cells as

243-493: A Guinness World Record for the farthest distance. In June 2017, Airbus presented its CityAirbus , an electrically powered VTOL aircraft demonstrator. The multirotor aircraft is intended to carry four passengers, with a pilot initially and to become self-piloted when regulations allow. Its first unmanned flight was scheduled for the end of 2018 with manned flights planned to follow in 2019. Type certification and commercial introduction are planned for 2023. Ingenuity ,

324-506: A lithium-ion battery . Eviation was working on building a prototype scheduled to fly in early 2019. In 2017, a second pressurized model was to be an extended-range ER executive aircraft available by 2023 for $ 2.9 million, with a more powerful aluminum-air battery with a lithium-polymer buffer, a cabin pressurized to 1,200 m (4,000 ft) at FL 280, G5000 avionics, a 444 km/h (240 kn) cruise and 1,367 km (738 nmi) range. In October 2019, Eviation described only

405-716: A patented wing-integrated battery system, the Lange E1 Antares , completed its maiden flight in 1999; since 2004, more than 100 aircraft of this type have been delivered, totalling more than 165,000 electric flight hours to date (until 2022). Between 2015 and 2016, Solar Impulse 2 completed a circumnavigation of the Earth using solar power. Electric VTOL aircraft or personal air vehicles are being considered for Urban Air Mobility . Electric commercial airliners could lower operating costs. By May 2018 almost 100 electric aircraft were known to be under development. This

486-494: A 10-seater, eventually an at least 120 passengers single aisle, short haul airliner and targets 50% lower noise and 10% lower costs. Jeffrey Engler, CEO of Wright Electric, estimates that commercially viable electric planes will lead to around a 30% reduction in energy costs. On March 19, 2018, Israel Aerospace Industries announced it plans to develop a short-haul electric airliner, building on its small UAS electric power systems experience. It could develop it in-house, or with

567-456: A 12-hour flight from NASA Dryden . After further modifications, the aircraft was moved to the U.S. Navy 's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the Hawaiian island of Kauai . On July 7, 1997, Pathfinder raised the altitude record for solar–powered aircraft to 71,530 feet (21,800 m), which was also the record for propeller–driven aircraft. On August 6, 1998, Pathfinder Plus raised

648-506: A 5 kW/kg power density, competing with the 260 kW (350 hp), 50 kg (110 lb) Siemens SP260D for the Extra 330LE . By September 2018, a 350 hp (260 kW) electric motor with a propeller had been tested on a Cessna iron bird. The 750 hp (560 kW) Caravan first flew in 2020 and by 2022 MagniX estimates electric aircraft will have ranges of 500 and 1,000 miles (800 and 1,610 km) by 2024. The motor ran on

729-448: A 50 min endurance. Pipistrel plans to deliver over 30 examples in 2020, to be operated as a trainer aircraft . On 12 October 2021, Diamond Aircraft announced the development of the e DA40 , targeting a 2022 first flight and a 2023 EASA/FAA Part 23 certification, tailored to the flight training market. The two-seat aircraft is expected to be able to fly for up to 90 minutes, with 40% lower operating costs than piston power. The eDA40 has

810-725: A 650 lb (290 kg) scale model UAV was flown to validate the aerodynamics and flight controls . Kokam was selected to supply pouch lithium polymer batteries to power the full-scale prototype. Work on the power system and drive train was begun. Eviation teamed up with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to launch a research and development program in the spring of 2019 at its Prescott, Arizona campus . The program would focus on performance analysis, validation and testing, along with preliminary design and sub-scale testing of future electric propulsion and airframe design concepts. By early 2019, Eviation had secured $ 200 million of investment to cover certification and production while

891-565: A 70% stake in Eviation Aircraft in August 2019. By October 2019, over 150 Alice aircraft had been ordered by two American companies. Many orders are backed by firm but refundable down payments. Further investment of $ 500 million was still needed to begin serial production. On 22 January 2020, a fire broke out and the prototype was destroyed, but no-one was injured. The fire broke out in an under-floor battery compartment located in

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972-592: A 920 kWh battery weighing 3,600 kg, would have a 6,350 kg maximum take-off weight, down from 6,668 kg, an altitude ceiling of 32,000 ft and a maximum payload of 1,134 kg. Taxi testing of the first production model began in December 2021 at Arlington Municipal Airport , north of Seattle . In June 2022, it was announced that the prototype Alice was being moved to Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington , where first flight

1053-463: A composite airframe , propulsion from two Magnix electric engines and Honeywell 's flight control systems , including automatic landing . At 3,700 kg (8,200 lb), the batteries account for 60% of the aircraft take-off weight. Manufacturing is planned in the US. The company plans for recharging to be carried out by mobile charging vehicles, similar to aviation fuel trucks. Each hour of flight time

1134-749: A cost of $ 250,000, which is half of the direct operating cost and similar to a piston engine overhaul . Based on U.S. industrial electricity prices , the direct operating cost with nine passengers and two crew, flying at 240 kn (440 km/h), is claimed to be $ 200 per hour, which compares to $ 600–1,000 per hour for existing aircraft of similar purchase price such as the Cessna 402s , Pilatus PC-12 and Beechcraft King Air , for operations on routes under 500 nmi (930 km). 45% of air routes fall within its 565 nmi (1,050 km) range at 260 kn (482 km/h), or 55% of airline flights according to Flightglobal 's Cirium data. The electric drivetrain will have

1215-498: A focus to improve safety and scalability of UAM systems through the launch of the AAM National Campaign and Agility Prime. NASA showed this initiative by signing agreements with 17 companies to test UAM vehicles and systems. On the other hand, the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program demonstrates a focus on scalability through exploring vertical flight opportunities for military applications. The air taxi market

1296-526: A gasoline-powered Cessna and other aircraft in a series of trials verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale . The Long ESA was found to be less expensive, have a higher maximum speed, and higher rate of climb, partly due to the ability of the aircraft to maintain performance at altitude as low air density does not impair engine performance. In 2017, Siemens used a modified Extra EA-300 acrobatic airplane,

1377-564: A higher energy density than lead–acid batteries , needed to power a heavier than air aircraft . Following successful human-powered flight , a relaunched Kremer prize allowed the crew to store energy before takeoff. In the 1980s, several such designs stored electricity generated by pedalling, including the MIT Monarch and the Aerovironment Bionic Bat. The Boeing -led FCD (fuel cell demonstrator) project uses

1458-417: A higher voltage than current electrical systems. Two 850 hp (630 kW) Magni650 electric motors will drive two propellers mounted on the aft fuselage. The unpressurized aircraft has a flat lower fuselage. The Italian company Magnaghi Aeronautica supplies landing gear and has already produced the gear for the similarly sized Piaggio P.180 Avanti . It will be built with existing technology, including

1539-877: A joint program between the United States government and the AAM industry created by the FAA for the purpose of developing early stage AAM utilization in at least one site by 2028. First efforts by the program anticipate utilizing existing airports and helipads with potential modifications – such as parking stations, charging ports, or weather monitoring capabilities – being added as needed. In Canada , air taxi operations are regulated by Transport Canada under Canadian Aviation Regulation 703. The Canadian definition of air taxi includes all commercial single-engine aircraft, multi-engine helicopters flown by visual flight rules by one pilot and all multi-engine, non-turbo-jet aircraft, with

1620-462: A letter of intent for an order of 50 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2027. In January 2023, Mexican regional carrier Aerus ordered 30 aircraft. Data from Eviation General characteristics Performance Electric aircraft Crewed flights in an electrically powered airship go back to the 19th century, and to 1917 for a tethered helicopter . Electrically powered model aircraft have been flown at least since 1957, preceding

1701-453: A maximum take-off weight 8,618 kg (18,999 lb) or less and nine or fewer passenger seats, that are used to transport people or goods or for sightseeing. Companies such as Uber claim air taxis and other VTOL aircraft will enable rapid and reliable transportation. Uber plans to develop new skyports, which may provide multidimensional routes opposed to traditional routes taken by current forms of transportation. To achieve efficiency,

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1782-506: A peak speed of 80 knots (150 km/h). The Robinson R44 helicopter was modified with two three-phase permanent magnet synchronous YASA Motors , weighing 45 kg (100 lb), plus 11 Lithium polymer batteries from Brammo weighing 500 kg (1,100 lb). It later flew for 20 minutes in 2016. On December 7, 2018, Tier 1 Engineering flew an electric, battery-powered R44 over 30 nmi (56 km) at 80 kn (150 km/h) and an altitude of 800 ft (240 m), setting

1863-485: A pedal-powered airplane to attempt the Channel crossing, the airplane proved too heavy to be successfully powered by human power and was then converted to solar power, using an electric motor driven by batteries that were charged before flight by a solar cell array on the wing. The maiden flight of Solar One took place at Lasham Airfield , Hampshire, on June 13, 1979. The MacCready Gossamer Penguin first flew carrying

1944-541: A pilot in 1980. The MacCready Solar Challenger was first flown in 1980, and in 1981 flew 163 miles from Pontoise Aerodrome , north of Paris, to Manston Royal Air Force Base in Manston , England, staying aloft 5 hours and 23 minutes, with pilot Stephen Ptacek at the controls. The human piloted Solair 1, developed by Günther Rochelt, flew in 1983 with notably improved performance. It employed 2499 wing-mounted solar cells. The German solar-powered aircraft "Icaré II"

2025-606: A pilot on 30 minute flights with a 30-minute reserve. Magnix is seeking FAA certification for its 640 kW (850shp) Magni650 aircraft engine, while battery provider H55 (a spin-off from Solar Impulse) is pursuing EASA approval. A demonstrator for the German Scylax E10 10-seater should fly in 2022. It should be used by FLN Frisia Luftverkehr to connect East Frisian islands with its 300 km (160 nmi) range and 300 m (980 ft) short takeoff and landing distance. Air taxi An air taxi

2106-628: A planned three-seat variant for future release. The eDA40 had its initial flight on 20 July 2023. On 19 February 2024, Aura Aero rolls-out its first prototype of Integral E. The NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) is a NASA reconfigurable testbed in Plum Brook Station , Ohio, used to design, develop, assemble and test electric aircraft power systems, from a small, one or two person aircraft up to 20 MW (27,000 hp) airliners . NASA research agreements (NRA) are granted to develop electric-propulsion components. That programme

2187-480: A sailplane. It is the first two-seat electric aircraft to have achieved series production. As pilot training emphasises short flights, several companies make, or have demonstrated, light aircraft suitable for initial flight training. The Airbus E-Fan was aimed at flight training but the project was cancelled. Pipistrel makes light sport electric aircraft such as the Pipistrel WATTsUP , a prototype of

2268-629: A small battery, which powered the motor. Following a 1.5-hour charge, the battery could power the aircraft for 3 to 5 minutes to reach a gliding altitude. It followed a successful model test in 1974, as solar cells were developed, at the same period than with NiCad batteries. Under the direction of Freddie To, an architect and member of the Kremer prize committee, the Solar One was designed by David Williams and produced by Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments. A motor-glider type aircraft originally built as

2349-412: A startup like Israeli Eviation , U.S. Zunum Aero or Wright Electric. Australia-based MagniX has developed an electric Cessna 208 Caravan with a 540 kW (720 hp) motor for flight durations up to an hour. The company's Magni5 electric motor produces continuously 265 kW (355 hp), 300 kW (400 hp) peak at 2,500 rpm at 95% efficiency with a 53 kg (117 lb) dry mass,

2430-416: A test dynamometer for 1,000 hours. The iron bird is a Caravan forward fuselage used as a test bed, with the original Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engine replaced by an electric motor, inverter and a liquid-cooling system, including radiators, driving a Cessna 206 propeller. The production motor will produce 280 kW (380 hp) at 1,900 rpm, down from the test motor's 2,500 rpm, allowing

2511-570: Is a small commercial aircraft that makes short flights on demand. The concept of air taxis existed as early as the 1910s. This concept goes back as early as 1917 with Glenn Curtiss ’ prototype, the auto-plane. Furthermore, during the 1920s to the late 1950s, various inventors created their own prototypes. Such inventors included Henry Ford , Waldo Waterman , and Moulton “Molt” Taylor. However, each of these projects faced challenges which included crashes, lack of funding, or technical difficulties. After all this experimentation and challenges faced,

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2592-472: Is an application of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) – air transportation systems that utilize advanced technologies such as vertical takeoffs, autonomous capabilities, or fully-electric systems – for short to mid range on-demand flights. Many AAM vehicles are designed for Short Takeoff and Landing ( STOL ) or Vertical Takeoff and Landings ( VTOL ); electric VTOL aircraft are also prominent, known as eVTOLs. Another noteworthy term for

2673-532: Is as a sustaining motor or even a self-launching motor for gliders . The most common system is the front electric sustainer , which is used in over 240 gliders. The short range is not a problem as the motor is used only briefly, either to launch or to avoid an outlanding (an unplanned landing while soaring). The first commercially available, non-certified production electric aircraft, the Alisport Silent Club self-launching glider , flew in 1997. It

2754-553: Is created from ground transportation trips longer than 30 minutes. Because of these factors, areas with a high-density of wealthy individuals or businesses, such as New York or San Francisco , may offer a shorter path to profitability for air taxi services. San Francisco specifically is viewed as a possible early market for air taxis because of its large population of frequent, long-distance commuters. Some market studies assume autonomous operation of air taxis for their predictions, current FAA implementation plans for AAM constrains

2835-434: Is expected to require a charging time of 30 minutes. The cells are similar to those from auto industry batteries . In 2024, Eviation disclosed it has secured more than 600 letters of intent (LOIs) for aircraft worth an estimated $ 5 billion, with some of those deals included deposits, the company hopes to begin converting LOIs into firm orders once it has finalised suppliers for the aircraft. The first potential customers for

2916-597: Is optionally driven by a 13 kW (17 hp) DC electric motor running on 40 kg (88 lb) of batteries that store 1.4 kWh (5.0 MJ) of energy. The first certificate of airworthiness for an electric powered aircraft was granted to the Lange Antares 20E in 2003. Also an electric, self-launching 20 m (66 ft) glider/sailplane, with a 42 kW (56 hp) DC/DC brushless motor and lithium-ion batteries , it can climb up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) with fully charged cells. The first flight

2997-442: Is powered by four electric motors. Energy from solar cells on the wings and horizontal stabilizer is stored in lithium polymer batteries and used to drive propellers. In 2012, the first Solar Impulse made the first intercontinental flight by a solar aircraft, flying from Madrid , Spain to Rabat , Morocco. Completed in 2014, Solar Impulse 2 carried more solar cells and more powerful motors, among other improvements. In March 2015,

3078-463: The Fraser River near Vancouver . The normally-fitted Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior piston engine of the six-passenger Beaver was replaced by a 135 kg (297 lb) magni500 , with swappable batteries, allowing 30 minute flights with a 30-minute reserve. By April 2022, flight testing of a certifiable version through a STC was delayed until late 2023, to carry four passengers and

3159-531: The Pipistrel Alpha Electro . The advantage of electric aircraft for flight training is the lower cost of electrical energy compared to aviation fuel. Noise and exhaust emissions are also reduced compared with combustion engines. The Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2 (formerly the Sun Flyer 2) is a light electric aircraft designed and under development by Bye Aerospace of Denver, Colorado. The aircraft

3240-436: The "operator/passenger area". On 18 May 2020, GKN Aerospace announced their partnership with Eviation on the design and manufacture of the wing, empennage and electrical wiring interconnection system of subsequent Alice airframes. By December 2020, Eviation expected to fly a modified Alice design in 2021, with the wing-tip motors relocated, before certification in the second half of 2023. In July 2021, Eviation unveiled

3321-493: The 2010s to the present day, there was  the “reemergence” of catering to “on-demand aviation services” that focus on goods delivery and passenger mobility such as the ability of booking a helicopter through a smartphone. BLADE, SkyRyde, and UberCopter are just some examples of companies that are offering passenger mobility helicopter services. Additionally, NASA and the United States Air Force initiated

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3402-724: The 2030s. In 1909, an electric free flight model was claimed to have been flown eight minutes, but this claim has been disputed by the builder of the first recorded electric Radio-Controlled model aircraft flight in 1957. Power density for electric flight was problematic even for small models. NASA's Pathfinder, Pathfinder Plus , Centurion , and Helios were a series of solar and fuel cell system–powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by AeroVironment , Inc. from 1983 until 2003 under NASA 's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program. On September 11, 1995, Pathfinder set an unofficial altitude record for solar-powered aircraft of 50,000 feet (15,000 m) during

3483-592: The 330LE, to set two new records: on March 23 at the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany, the aircraft reached a top speed of around 340 km/h (180 kn) over 3 km (1.6 nmi) and the next day, it became the first glider towing electric aircraft. NASA was developing the X-57 Maxwell to demonstrate technology to reduce fuel use, emissions, and noise, but the program

3564-453: The Alice configuration to a constant cross-section tubular fuselage, large winglets, higher propeller pylons, and a larger central energy storage compartment above the wing following the completion of a conceptual design review alongside TLG Aerospace. Two variants of the Alice were originally planned. The initial, unpressurized model was intended for air taxi operations, with energy stored in

3645-537: The Alice was Cape Air , a regional airline serving the Northeastern United States as well as the Caribbean. In August 2021, Deutsche Post announced that it had ordered 12 aircraft for use by DHL to transport cargo, with delivery planned from 2024. In April 2022, Eviation stated that Cape Air signed a letter of Intent for the purchase of 75 planes. In September 2022, GlobalX Airlines signed

3726-659: The German consultancy Roland Berger , have predicted about 3,000 flying taxis will be in operation by 2025 with as many as 98,000 by 2050. In addition, Joby Aviation plans to be in operation in New York by 2025. They plan to offer electric air taxi transport from JFK airport to downtown Manhattan . Joby Aviation also plans to offer booking on demand, similar to rideshare apps. Furthermore, in 2025, Joby and Delta airlines hope to launch eVTOL flights in New York and Los Angeles. Additionally, United and Archer Aviation plan to do

3807-601: The Helios prototype broke up and fell into the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii after the aircraft encountered turbulence, ending the program. In 2005, AC Propulsion flew an unmanned airplane named "SoLong" for 48 hours non-stop, propelled entirely by solar energy. This was the first such around-the-clock flight, on energy stored in the batteries mounted on the aircraft. The QinetiQ Zephyr is a lightweight solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). As of 23 July 2010 it holds

3888-465: The NASA small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS) which flew on Mars in 2021 to become the first extraterrestrial aircraft, has a single pair of coaxial rotors . The Dragonfly rotorcraft lander should be the second aircraft and rotorcraft to operate on another astronomical object than Earth. It should be flying in the atmosphere of Titan starting around 2034. The VTOL capabilities is incorporated in order to move

3969-426: The air taxi market is Urban Air Mobility (UAM), which is a sub-category of AAM focused on applications in urban settings. Air taxi designs vary to accommodate various numbers of passengers. NASA has proposed various designs that could accommodate various numbers of passengers such as: single, six, and fifteen passenger air taxi aircraft. NASA has analyzed three possible options of  vehicle design to outweigh

4050-408: The aircraft at night. In July 2010 a Zephyr made a world record UAV endurance flight of 336 hours, 22 minutes and 8 seconds (more than two weeks) and also set an altitude record of 70,742 feet (21,562 m) for FAI class U-1.c (remotely controlled UAV with a weight between 50 and 500 kg (110 and 1,100 lb)). For a tethered device such as an air observation platform, it is possible to run

4131-526: The aircraft took off on the first stage of a planned round-the-world trip, flying eastwards from Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates. Due to battery damage, the craft halted at Hawaii , where its batteries were replaced. It resumed the circumnavigation in April 2016 and reached Seville , Spain, in June 2016. The following month it returned to Abu Dhabi, completing its circumnavigation of the world. An application

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4212-627: The company gave the official go-ahead. The first free-flying electric helicopter was the Solution F/Chretien Helicopter , developed by Pascal Chretien in Venelles, France. It went from computer-aided design concept on September 10, 2010, to first flight in August 2011, in under a year. In September 2016, Martine Rothblatt and Tier1 Engineering successfully tested an electric-powered helicopter. The five minute flight reached an altitude of 400 feet (120 m) with

4293-475: The current proposed plan is to use the top decks of parking structures and current existing helipads to create multiple skyports for the future. EVTOL developer TCab Tech raised 20 million dollars in its first round of funding. The company has received more than 200 provisional orders for its E20 model, in which Chinese media has reported that the E20 ; will COST $ 970,000 per unit. Other companies, such as

4374-408: The development of air taxis. Development of designs are used for different purposes in based on the following criteria For the most part, air taxis will be designed to be electrical and function as helicopters. Many companies such as Joby Aviation have partnered with the military to learn and redesign operations of the aircraft. Joby's partnership with the military allows for various testing within

4455-494: The development of the airship in the latter part of the nineteenth century. On 8 October 1883, Gaston Tissandier flew the first electrically powered airship. The following year, Charles Renard and Arthur Krebs flew La France with a more powerful motor. Even with the lifting capacity of an airship, the heavy accumulators needed to store the electricity severely limited the speed and range of such early airships. Fully electric airships are expected to be available again by

4536-425: The endurance record for an unmanned aerial vehicle of over 2 weeks (336 hours). It is of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer construction, the 2010 version weighing 50 kg (110 lb) (the 2008 version weighed 30 kg (66 lb)) with a span of 22.5 m (74 ft) (the 2008 version had a 18 m (59 ft) wingspan). During the day it uses sunlight to charge lithium-sulphur batteries , which power

4617-570: The first prototype was assembled in Vannes , northwest France. In April 2019, Eviation selected MagniX Magni250s 375 shp (280 kW) electric motors turning at 1,900 rpm as an alternative power option to Siemens 260 kW motors. At the June 2019 Paris Air Show , a full-size static Alice was exhibited. The first airline customer was announced: Hyannis, Massachusetts -based Cape Air . Cape Air ordered 92 aircraft, priced at $ 4 million each. MagniX investor Clermont Group from Singapore took

4698-604: The high aspect ratio wing with 12 smaller props. US/UK startup ZeroAvia develops zero-emissions fuel-cell propulsion systems for small aircraft, and tests its HyFlyer in Orkney supported by £2.7 million from the UK government. On April 29, 1979, the Mauro Solar Riser became the first person-carrying, solar-powered aircraft to fly, with photovoltaic cells delivering 350 W (0.47 hp) at 30 volts and charging

4779-399: The infrastructure for highly prevalent vertistops, areas that can support vertical landings and takeoffs based on consumer demand rather than predetermined routes, which may be a barrier for profitable implementation by 2030. Moreover, market studies point to infrastructure as among the most significant constraints for the air taxi market. It is also predicted that 98% of demand for air taxis

4860-712: The installation without a reduction gearbox. On 28 May 2020, the MagniX electric-powered nine-passenger Cessna 208B eCaravan flew on electric power, towards commercial operation certification. A 560-kW (750-hp) MagniX electric motor was installed in a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver seaplane. Harbour Air , based in British Columbia , was hoping to introduce the aircraft in commercial service in 2021, for trips under 30 minutes initially, until range increases as better batteries are introduced. On December 10, 2019, it made its first flight of four minutes duration from

4941-522: The lander and its sensors at various locations farther from the landing site. On 21 October 1973, the Militky MB-E1, a Brditschka HB-3 motor glider converted by Fred Militky and piloted by Heino Brditschka, flew for 9 minutes from Linz in Austria: the first electric aircraft to fly under its own power with a person on board, powered by Nickel–cadmium batteries (NiCad). NiCad batteries have

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5022-482: The lucrative consumer drone market. The Taurus Electro was the first two-seat electric aircraft to have ever flown, while the Taurus Electro G2 is the production version, that was introduced in 2011. Powered by a 40 kW (54 hp) electric motor and lithium batteries for self-launching to an altitude of 2,000 m (6,600 ft), after which the engine is retracted and the aircraft then soars as

5103-442: The main or auxiliary power system. During the three-year project, a fuel-cell based power system was designed and first flown in a Rapid 200FC ultralight aircraft on 20 May 2010. The first NASA Green Flight Challenge took place in 2011 and was won by a Pipistrel Taurus G4 on 3 October 2011. In 2013, Chip Yates demonstrated that the world's fastest electric airplane, a Long ESA, a modified Rutan Long-EZ , could outperform

5184-639: The military environment, such as transportation of cargo, medical evacuations, etc. Air taxis can be used for both commercial and private use to improve air mobility. The purpose will determine designs and technology, in which for the most part commercial use is predicted to be created as autonomous aircraft. One market analysis estimated early market demand for airport shuttles (AAMs along set routes to, from, and between airports) and air taxis to be 55,000 daily trips and 82,000 daily passengers – an annual value of US$ 2.5 billion. Facilitating an on-demand air taxi market similar to current ride-hailing services requires

5265-548: The most optimal model for missions, in which they compare mathematical statistics for a hybrid, turboshaft, and electrical aircraft models. Whereas for more of a single path commercial use the European Union Aviation Safety Agency propose that electrical aircraft will be the main source of power for air taxis, to ensure that air taxis are being designed with the new electronical technology. Various designs have been considered when it comes to

5346-525: The motor burned out after only a few flights. In 1964, William C. Brown at Raytheon flew a model helicopter that received all of the power needed for flight by microwave power transmission . The world's first large-scale all-electric tilt-rotor was the AgustaWestland Project Zero unmanned aerial vehicle technology demonstrator, which performed unmanned tethered fights on ground power in June 2011, less than six months after

5427-453: The national altitude record to 80,201 feet (24,445 m) for solar-powered and propeller-driven aircraft. On August 14, 2001, Helios set an altitude record of 29,524 metres (96,863 ft) – the record for FAI class U (experimental/new technologies), and FAI class U-1.d (remotely controlled UAV with a mass between 500 and 2,500 kg (1,100 and 5,500 lb)) as well as the altitude record for propeller–driven aircraft. On June 26, 2003,

5508-425: The number of known electric aircraft development programmes was closer to 170, with a majority of them aimed at the urban air taxi role. By 2022, about 100 electric aircraft designs were under development worldwide. By 2023, the number of sustainable aircraft concepts under development (not only electric) was estimated at up to 700. The use of electricity for aircraft propulsion was first experimented with during

5589-561: The power up the tether. In an attempt to create a more practical solution than the clumsy balloons then in use, the Austro-Hungarian Petróczy-Kármán-Žurovec PKZ-1 electric-powered helicopter was flown in 1917. It had a specially-designed 190 hp (140 kW) continuous-rated electric motor made by Austro-Daimler that was powered by a cable connected to a DC generator on the ground. However, electric motors were not yet powerful enough for such applications and

5670-497: The pressurized Alice Commuter with a 260 kn (480 km/h) cruise speed. With 260 Wh/kg cells, the 900 kWh battery capacity (3,460 kg, 7,630 lb) is initially estimated to give the design a range of 540–650 nmi (1,000–1,200 km) at 240 knots and 10,000 ft (3,048 m). This is anticipated to increase as battery technology improves. The batteries have been tested to more than 1,000 cycles, equivalent to 3,000 flight hours, They will then require replacement at

5751-568: The scope of AAMs to aircraft operated with a pilot on board. Air taxi and air charter operations are governed by 14 CFR Part 135 and 14 CFR part 298 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). In July 2023, the FAA released Version 1.0 of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Implementation Plan, describing short-term implementation goals for AAM. These goals are centered around Innovate28, aka I28 –

5832-567: The small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones used today. Small UAS could be used for parcel deliveries, and larger ones for long-endurance applications: aerial imagery, surveillance, telecommunications. The first crewed free flight by an electrically powered aeroplane , the MB-E1 , was made in 1973, and most crewed electric aircraft today are still only experimental prototypes. The world's first serially produced self-launching, manned electric aircraft with EASA type certification since 2006 and

5913-401: The updated configuration with a T-tail and two 850 hp (634 kW) Magni650 electric powerplants on each side of the aft fuselage, aiming for a first flight the same year. It should cruise at 220 kn (407 km/h, down from 240 kn), have 440 nmi range, 100 nmi (185 km) less than previously, be powered by an 820 kWh lithium-ion battery weighing 3,720 kg (8,200 lb), down from

5994-479: The urban air mobility industry had shifted focus on “improving safety and enhancing economic and operational efficiency of vertical flight". The next phase from the 1950s to the late 1980s included urban air mobility services through the use of helicopters within major cities such as Los Angeles , San Francisco , and New York ; however, the challenges of fuel costs and safety have made it difficult to commercialize using helicopters for urban air mobility . During

6075-480: Was cancelled due to problems with the propulsion system. Modified from a Tecnam P2006T , the X-57 will have 14 electric motors driving propellers mounted on the wing leading edges. In July 2017, Scaled Composites is modifying a first P2006T by replacing the piston engines with electric motors, to fly early in 2018, then will move the motors to the wingtips to increase propulsive efficiency and finally will install

6156-478: Was cancelled in 2023. In September 2017, UK budget carrier EasyJet announced it was developing an electric 180-seater for 2027 with Wright Electric . Founded in 2016, US Wright Electric built a two-seat proof-of-concept with 272 kg (600 lb) of batteries, and believes they can be scaled up with substantially lighter new battery chemistries . A 291 nmi (540 km) range would suffice for 20% of Easyjet passengers. Wright Electric will then develop

6237-945: Was designed and built by the institute of aircraft design (Institut für Flugzeugbau) of the University of Stuttgart in 1996. The leader of the project and often pilot of the aircraft is Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann, the head of the institute. The design won the Berblinger prize in 1996, the EAA Special Achievement Award in Oshkosh, the Golden Daidalos Medal of the German Aeroclub and the OSTIV-Prize in France in 1997. Solar Impulse 2

6318-523: Was first publicly introduced on 11 May 2016, and first flew on 10 April 2018. On 10 June 2020, the Velis Electro variant of the two-seat Pipistrel Virus was the first electric aircraft to secure type certification , from the EASA . Powered by a 76 hp (58 kW) electric motor developed with Emrax , it offers a payload of 170 kg (370 lb), a cruise speed of 90 kn (170 km/h), and

6399-449: Was hoped to occur by the summer of 2022. The aircraft had its first flight on 27 September 2022. Following the first test flight, Eviation announced it has revised the proposed range from 440 nm to 250 nm. The projected service entry date has been delayed to 2027. Before this range reduction, endurance at MTOW was planned at 2.8h. As no other flights followed the eight-minute September 2022 sortie, in April 2024 Eviation updated

6480-413: Was in 2003. In 2011, the aircraft won the 2011 Berblinger competition. In the late 2000s, a Chinese manufacturer of radio-controlled models Yuneec International developed and tested several battery-powered manned fixed-wing aircraft, including E430 , the first electric aircraft designed to be serially produced, but failed to commercialize them (only prototypes were built) and in the mid-2010s, turned to

6561-440: Was up from 70 the previous year and included 60% from startups, 32% from aerospace incumbents, half of them major OEMs and 8% from academic, government organizations and non-aerospace companies, mainly from Europe (45%) and the U.S. (40%). Mostly urban air taxis (50%) and general aviation aircraft (47%), a majority are battery-powered (73%), while some are hybrid-electric (31%), most of these being larger airliners. By May 2019,

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