"Alia had flown 100 miles (160km) in 55 minutes on battery power alone. Built by US aerospace company Beta Technologies, the electric plane is designed for cargo operations - carrying up to 560kg (half a tonne) loads. The flight had simulated a planned cargo route between the coastal cities of Stavanger and Bergen, and for the next few months test-flights will be carried out, as part of the country's move towards establishing low-emission aviation."
"Alia can fly up to 400km (250 miles) on a single charge, and refuel in less than 40 minutes by plugging-in, just like an electric car. The same fixed-wing model can be configured for medical transport or passenger travel with up to five seats, and this June it undertook the first electric demonstration flight carrying passengers into New York's JFK airport. Beta, which counts Amazon as an investor and UPS as a customer, hopes to get US certification for its plane this year."
"Beta, which counts Amazon as an investor and UPS as a customer, hopes to get US certification for its plane this year. "I'm convinced that the next major breakthrough in aerospace will come on the back of electric propulsion," says Beta's chief revenue officer Shawn Hall, who's a former fighter pilot. "We're now able to significantly lower the operating cost and it's environmentally beneficial from a carbon perspective.""
Beta Technologies' Alia completed a 100-mile (160km) battery-only flight in 55 minutes in Bergen, Norway, simulating a cargo route between Stavanger and Bergen. The fixed-wing electric aircraft is designed for cargo operations carrying up to 560kg and can be reconfigured for medical transport or up to five passengers. Alia can fly up to 400km on a single charge and recharge in under 40 minutes via plug-in. Beta counts Amazon as an investor and UPS as a customer and aims for US certification this year. Norwegian test-flights support efforts to establish low-emission aviation and evaluate operational benefits.
Read at www.bbc.com
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