In a historic day for aviation, Eviation Aircraft‘s all-electric, zero-emission Alice technical demonstrator aircraft had its first flight Sept. 28, 2022.
Powered by two magniX magni650 Electric Propulsion Units (EPUs), the aircraft lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (KMWH) in Moses Lake, Washington, east of Seattle.
The maiden flight lasted just eight minutes, according to company officials, who note that Alice marks a new generation of aircraft, as the world’s first “clean-sheet design” all-electric passenger plane, built from the ground up around an electric propulsion system.
“This trailblazing flight of the technology demonstrator provided Eviation with invaluable data to further optimize the aircraft for commercial production,” company officials added.
magniX’s electric propulsion for aircraft also powered first flights of a retrofitted electrified de Havilland Beaver seaplane in 2019, a Cessna Grand Caravan in 2020, and a Robinson 44 helicopter in 2022, according to officials with magniX.
magniX Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU)
magniX is on the path to FAA Part 33 certification, working with the FAA, which has granted magniX the first, and currently only, Special Conditions for establishing full certification of electric propulsion for aircraft, company officials added.