Eviation Aircraft’s zero-exhaust-emission Alice aircraft has successfully completed its first electric flight.
This achievement marks a milestone in the company’s ambition to advance electric aviation.
Alice took off at 7:10am from Grant County International Airport (MWH) in Washington and flew for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet.
The aircraft is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units, which is currently the only flight-proven electric propulsion system for an aircraft of this size.
The test flight provided Eviation with data to further optimise the aircraft for commercial production in the future.
Eviation President and CEO Gregory Davis said:Today we embark on the next era of aviation – we have successfully electrified the skies with the unforgettable first flight of Alice. People now know what affordable, clean and sustainable aviation looks and sounds like for the first time in a fixed-wing, all-electric aircraft. This ground-breaking milestone will lead innovation in sustainable air travel, and shape both passenger and cargo travel in the future.
Alice produces no carbon emissions, significantly reduces noise, and costs a fraction to operate per flight hour compared to light jets.
Electric aircraft are consequently expected to make regional travel more economically and environmentally sustainable.
Alice is targeted at commuter and cargo markets and will typically operate flights ranging from 150 miles to 250 miles.
US-based regional airlines, Cape Air and Global Crossing Airlines have already placed orders for 75 and 50 Alice aircraft respectively.
Meanwhile, DHL Express is the first cargo customer, with an order of 12 Alice eCargo planes that will be used to create an electric express network.
Cape Air Founder and Board Chairman Dan Wolf said:The first flight of Alice represents a transformational milestone for the aviation industry. We currently fly more than 400 regional flights per day, connecting more than 30 cities across the United States and Caribbean. Alice can easily cover 80 percent of our flight operations, bringing sustainable, emission-free travel to the communities we serve.
The Alice aircraft has a maximum operating speed of 260 knots and can carry a useful load of up to 2,600lbs.
Alice is available in three variants including a nine-passenger commuter, a six-passenger executive cabin and an eCargo version. All configurations also support two crew members.
