Electro.Aero have begun testing Australia’s first electric passenger plane. The first flight occured 2 January 2018 with the Pipistrel Alpha Electro with two circuits in the traffic pattern at Perth Jandakot Airport.
The Alpha Electro is a twin seater, single engine propellor driven aircraft made in Slovenia and is based on the Pipistrel Alpha petrol engined trainer. The Alpha Elctro has 2 lithium-ion batteries that can keep the plane flying for an hour with 30 minutes extra in reserve. It takes 1 hour to recharge the batteries with a super charger. The batteries are expected to last about 1000 hours. 60 kilowatts of power is used for take off and 20 kilowatts during cruise.
Testing is being done from Perth Jandakot airport (JAD/YPJT) with plans to fly passenger services to Rottnest Island.
Now with added correct link: Australia’s first electric plane is ready to start flying between Perth and Rottnest Island https://t.co/m6cefU8GXw #perthnews pic.twitter.com/tf8wlO0Ed1
— ABC Perth (@abcperth) January 4, 2018
Electro.Aero’s founder, Joshua Portlock told ABC News, “Electric propulsion is a lot simpler than a petrol engine. Inside a petrol engine you have hundreds of moving parts. In this aircraft you have one switch to turn the aircraft on and one throttle lever to fly.” There are no moving engine parts and no gear box, with the motor attached directly to the propellor. Flight costs for the engine amount to about $A3 an hour.
An interview with Electro.Aero’s founder can be heard on radio station 6PR.
Cruise speed: 85kts
Motor: 60kW
Battery capacity: 20kWh
Takeoff Distance: 265m
Landing Distance: 460m
MTOW: 550kg