31 December 2007
The race to create the first viable manned electric aircraft continues with the news of the flight of a lithium battery-powered light aircraft in France, just before Christmas.
The Electra F-WMDJ, an open-cockpit taildragger with a 25 hp engine, flew for 48 minutes in the circuit at Aspres sur Buech airfield (in the Hautes Alpes). It was piloted by test engineer Christian Vandamme. The flight covered some 50 km (just over 30 miles).
According to the APAME website, “this exceptional technological progress in the leisure aviation sector proposes an alternative solution without precedent to the current thermic engines for aircrafts requiring a 15 to 50ch power. This flight uses the electrical engine for light aircrafts respecting the environmental context and the control of energy costs.”
The project was supported by the <a href=”http://www.apame.eu/” target=”_blank”>APAME</a> (Association for the Promotion of Electrical Engine Aircraft).
The flight sets a new standard for electric flight. APAME had previously overseen an ultralight flight of 22 minutes duration.
