Electric take-off

An important step towards hybrid electric retrofits for popular commuter aircraft models like the Twin Otter moved closer last week as Ampaire demonstrated its Electric EEL Its converted six- demonstrator in Scotland, Alison Chambers reports.

Its converted six-seat Cessna 337 Skymaster, with a battery in the front and conventional piston engine at the rear, flew a series of flights between Wick and Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Isles.  

Ampaire Test Pilot Justin Gillen said the aircraft handled extremely well, flying at 3,500ft and 120mph.  

Orkney is home to the UK Government-backed Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) which is led by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).  Kirkwall Airport is the operations base for the UK’s first low-carbon aviation test centre.

The SATE project forms part of Future Flight Challenge, established by the UK Research and Innovation agency to encourage the development of low-carbon aviation technologies, as well as investigating the airport infrastructure required to support sustainable aviation.

Ampaire is now preparing to fly the EEL to the South West for further development flights between Exeter and Cornwall Newquay airports.  

The airports, along with Ampaire, Rolls-Royce, Loganair and six other stakeholders, are all part of the 2ZERO (Towards Zero Emissions in Regional Aircraft Operations project).  Weather permitting, the flights could be as early as next week. 

www.ampaire.com

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David Starkie, United Kingdom

Slightly confused by this piece. Ampaire seems to be a US firm based in CA. How does this fit with UK government funded SATE?