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The 1,700-nm (3,200-km) journey covered 16.5 hours of total flight time, including rest stops, charging stops and media events at 21 airports — including a hop from Plattsburgh International Airport (KPBG) to KBTV on the morning of Oct. 10 — as the aircraft traversed 12 states. Alia will remain at Duke Field into the winter for flight testing by both the US Air Force (USAF) and Beta test pilots.
On Sept. 27, Beta Technologies made the first international flight of its all-electric Alia electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft prototype, N250UT, from Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) in New York to Montréal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Quebec.
Vancouver-based Helijet International has placed a firm order for four Beta Technologies Alia 250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and secured options for four additional aircraft. When delivered, these will join its current fleet of 19 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Battery performance and associated aircraft range capability remains a major area of focus for the nascent electric aircraft industry. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recognized the need for civil aviation authorities to assess battery performance for electric aircraft in a recently published white paper, “Managing Range and Endurance of Battery-Electric Aircraft.”
Beta Technologies’ recent opening of its new 188,500-ft² (17,500-m²) manufacturing plant for its Alia aircraft is the latest indicator that the 2017-founded South Burlington, Vermont-based company is one of the world’s leading electric aircraft companies. Beta has two prototype Alia aircraft that it is currently testing for two future models: the CX300 electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) and A250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The two aircraft share 80% common design elements, creating a simple, streamlined path to commercialization and certification, Beta says. The company plans to produce up to 300 aircraft per year and eventually hire hundreds of factory workers, beyond its 600 employees today.
The Aviation Week Network hosted a three-day mini symposium in Hall 5, in the middle of the AAM vehicle display.
This year’s AirVenture had more vertical flight content than ever before.
In a multi-day event on Aug. 1–3, officials from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assured attendees that the agency would be ready for the introduction of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other types of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles.
Nearly 1,200 people attended the 79th Annual Forum in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Since the last issue of Vertiflite magazine, several of the leading developers of electric VTOL (eVTOL) aircraft have revealed important milestones in their efforts to test, certify and produce the latest generation of sustainable commercial aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) applications.
