15 February 2019
+VIDEO The Sun Flyer 2 electric aircraft from US company Bye Aerospace has successfully completed its first official flight test with a Siemens motor.
Siemens is providing an electric propulsion system for the Sun Flyer 2. It is the SP70D motor with a 90kW peak rating (120hp), and a continuous power setting of up to 70kW (94hp), and weighs 57 pounds.
“The airplane performed exactly as planned,” said George E. Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace. “My thanks to the entire Siemens team for their participation as we enter this next, important flight test phase of Sun Flyer 2 with the Siemens electric propulsion system.”
The Sun Flyer family of aircraft, including the two-seat Sun Flyer 2 and the four-seat Sun Flyer 4, aims to be the first FAA-certified, practical, all-electric airplanes to serve the flight training and General Aviation markets.
Sun Flyer 2’s application to the FAA was accepted under FAR 23 certification criteria in the spring of 2018. The Sun Flyer 2 prototype will conduct extensive additional flight test activities in 2019 and continue to work closely with FAA representatives on certification activities. Current flight test focus areas are propulsion system, envelope expansion and systems optimisation.
“This successful test flight is a proud moment for the Siemens and Bye Aerospace teams and marks a milestone in bringing the age of electric flight to life,” said Dr. Frank Anton, Executive Vice President and Head of eAircraft, Siemens.
“The Siemens electric propulsion system offers a clean, cost-efficient and silent propulsion alternative to the flight training market without compromising performance or safety.”
Siemens has previously equipped European light and sport aircraft, incouding an Extra 330 aerobatic aircraft, with electric propulsion systems up to 260kW for test purposes. Siemens is also developing propulsion technology in power classes up to 10MW to enable electrification of aircraft in the commercial air transport sector.
