Schlagwort-Archive: electric

Pipistrel appoints first distributor in Mexico

Committed to positioning itself as the top choice for aircraft sales and acquisitions in the region, Wulf Aviation will be responsible for managing sales of Pipistrel’s range of ultralight, light sport and type-certified aircraft across Mexico.

Wulf Aviation has placed an initial order for a Pipistrel Explorer, a 2-seat EASA type-certified plane, intended to serve as a demonstration aircraft. The appointment of Wulf Aviation follows Pipistrel’s expansion of its distribution network in key regions across the globe, including the appointment of four distributors in North America. Source: ‚Pipistrel‚.

CityAirbus NextGen makes its debut

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Airbus recently presented its full electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype to the public, ahead of its maiden flight later this year. The two-tonne class CityAirbus, with a wing span of approximately 12 metres, is being developed to fly with an 80 km range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h, making it perfectly suited for operations in major cities for a variety of missions.

The unveiling coincided with the opening of the new CityAirbus test centre in Donauwörth, which will be dedicated to testing systems for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). The centre, which is part of Airbus’ ongoing and long-term investment in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), began its operations with the CityAirbus NextGen’s power-on in December 2023 and it will be now used for the remaining tests required before the prototype’s maiden flight later in the year. These tests cover the electric motors with their eight rotors as well as the aircraft’s other systems such as flight controls and avionics.

At the same time, Airbus is expanding its global network and partnerships to create a unique ecosystem that will foster a successful and viable AAM market. Airbus recently signed a partnership agreement with LCI, a leading aviation company, to focus on the development of partnership scenarios and business models in three core AAM areas: strategy, commercialisation and financing. Source: ‚Airbus‚.

World’s First Piloted Flight of Liquid Hydrogen Powered Electric Aircraft

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Project HEAVEN, a European-government-supported consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft, today announced it has successfully completed the world’s first piloted flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen. The consortium is led by H2FLY and includes the partners Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, and Fundación Ayesa.

The day consisted of four flights powered by liquid hydrogen as part of the project’s flight test campaign, including one flight that lasted for over three hours. The flights were completed with H2FLY’s piloted HY4 demonstrator aircraft, fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen that powered the aircraft.

Results of the test flights indicate that using liquid hydrogen in place of gaseous hydrogen will double the maximum range of the HY4 aircraft from 750 km to 1,500 km, marking a critical step towards the delivery of emissions-free, medium- and long-haul commercial flights.

Besides project HEAVEN, the work has been funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMVD), and The University of Ulm. Compared with pressurized gaseous hydrogen storage (GH2), the use of liquified, cryogenic hydrogen (LH2) enables significantly lower tank weights and volume, therefore leading to increased aircraft range and useful payload. Source: ‚Pipistrel-Aircraft‚.

Hybrid-Electric Pipistrel Panthera starts Test Campaign

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In mid-October 2021 the “MAHEPA Panthera”, integrated with the novel, SAF-capable, hybrid-electric powertrain developed during the project, took off from Cerklje airport, in Slovenia, successfully demonstrating the possibility of local zero-emission flights by performing all-electric take-offs. Expectations set by prior ground tests were only confirmed by the powerful, yet quiet performance of the MAHEPA Panthera, which has all the characteristics to become a flying test-bed for future developments in hybrid aviation. With the achievement of this essential milestone, the MAHEPA project is, with its numerous novel technologies developments and exemplary results, again contributing to a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable aviation, making the Europe Green Deal’s goals one step closer to reality. MAHEPA consortium, composed of Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, Compact Dynamics, DLR, H2Fly, Politecnico di Milano, TU Delft, University of Maribor and the University of Ulm is a pioneer project in the development of hybrid-electric technologies which will serve the next generation of greener aircraft. Source: ‚Pipistrel‚.

Diamond Aircraft announces All-Electric Trainer

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Diamond Aircraft is proud to announce the development of an all-electric training aircraft, the eDA40, and has chosen Electric Power Systems’ EPiC battery technology and accompanying Ecosystem. Since 2011 Diamond Aircraft has been researching and developing electric and hybrid-electric platform solutions. At Paris Airshow in 2011, in co-operation with Siemens, Diamond Aircraft introduced the DA36 E-Star, the world’s first aircraft with a serial hybrid electric drive system based on the HK36 motor glider. Two years later, the DA36 E-Star 2, was presented at the Paris Airshow, with improved performance and increased payload. Further research of electric and hybrid solutions led to additional collaboration with Siemens and the introduction of the next milestone, called ‘HEMEP’ – the world’s first hybrid-electric multi-engine with lower fuel consumption (higher efficiency) and decreased noise pollution.

After extensive research and numerous flight test hours on electric and hybrid platforms, Diamond Aircraft is positioned to offer an all-electric solution to the General Aviation market – the eDA40. Diamond Aircraft has decided to partner with the innovative battery technology company, Electric Power Systems, integrating the EPiC Ecosystem into the eDA40, a derivative of the existing and certified DA40 platform. The Electric Power Systems’ Battery Module will be equipped with a DC fast-charging system, capable of turning around a depleted aircraft in under 20 minutes. Batteries will be installed in a custom-designed belly pod and between the engine and the forward bulkhead.

The aircraft will feature the latest Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit and will have several avionics add-ons available. Total flight time is expected to be up to 90 minutes as the battery technologies evolve. The eDA40 is expected to reduce operating costs by up to 40% compared to traditional piston aircraft. “The eDA40 will be the first EASA/FAA Part 23 certified electric airplane with DC fast charging and specifically tailored to the flight training market,” says Liqun (Frank) Zhang, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Austria. “Making flying as eco-friendly as possible has always been at the core of Diamond Aircraft with our fuel-efficient jet fuel-powered aircraft producing less CO2 and noise emissions compared to conventional piston aircraft engines. Therefore, we are more than proud to underline this commitment with the all-electric eDA40, a sustainable solution for the General Aviation of tomorrow.”

“We are excited to announce our new partnership with Electric Power Systems,” says Scott McFadzean, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Aircraft Industries Canada. “The eDA40 with its proven airframe, the quick recharge capability, and the low operating cost will be an excellent aircraft for the flight training market and solidifies Diamond’s position as a global leader in General Aviation.”

“We are thrilled to team with Diamond on this important project for the aviation industry,“ says Nathan Millecam, Chief Executive Officer of Electric Power Systems. „Training aircraft set the stage for demonstrating that electric aircraft can meet the demands of high-paced, high-volume operations at a reduced cost basis. Combining EPS’ battery and electric propulsion know-how with a globally recognized leader in advanced general aviation design and manufacturing enables the eDA40 to be one of the most notable Electric Aircraft projects in the world.” The eDA40 is targeted at flight training customers looking for an excellent electric circuit trainer based on the industry’s leading training aircraft DA40. It is the perfect complement to an existing Diamond fleet to keep standardization high. Initial flights of the eDA40 are scheduled for Q2 2022. Certification is expected in 2023. Source: ‚Diamond Aircraft‚.