[BBC] 'World's first' fully-electric commercial flight takes off

[Andrew]

An all-electric powered seaplane has taken flight in Vancouver, Canada, in what the operators describe as a "world first" for the aviation industry.

The short test flight by Harbour Air and magniX involved a six-passenger aircraft fitted with an electric motor.

The companies said it was a first step to building the "world's first all-electric commercial fleet".

The push to electric could help slash carbon emissions in the high-polluting aviation sector.

 

The flight involved a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver with a 750-horsepower (560 kW) magni500 propulsion system.

Launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year, Australian company magniX said its propulsion system aims to provide a "clean and efficient way to power airplanes".

 

Source

 

[video=youtube_share;X_dnAD5TD-E]https://youtu.be/X_dnAD5TD-E

 

This is pretty neat. It should cut down emissions a lot for short-haul flights. I can't see it taking over long-haul flights for a very, very long time though. Battery tech has improved a lot in recent years but it's still no where near good enough.

[ENTERPRISE]

An all-electric powered seaplane has taken flight in Vancouver, Canada, in what the operators describe as a "world first" for the aviation industry.

The short test flight by Harbour Air and magniX involved a six-passenger aircraft fitted with an electric motor.

The companies said it was a first step to building the "world's first all-electric commercial fleet".

The push to electric could help slash carbon emissions in the high-polluting aviation sector.

 

The flight involved a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver with a 750-horsepower (560 kW) magni500 propulsion system.

Launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year, Australian company magniX said its propulsion system aims to provide a "clean and efficient way to power airplanes".

 

Source

 

[video=youtube_share;X_dnAD5TD-E]https://youtu.be/X_dnAD5TD-E

 

This is pretty neat. It should cut down emissions a lot for short-haul flights. I can't see it taking over long-haul flights for a very, very long time though. Battery tech has improved a lot in recent years but it's still no where near good enough.

 

I think it is great. Battery tech has come along way and I think the commercial popularity in drones as well as electric vehicles have really pushed battery tech companies to innovate. Lets face it, I should imagine their profit margins are increasing due to the obvious popularity of electric transport/gadgets.