All-electric aircraft Alice, developed by Israeli company Eviation, made its first test flight. It ascended to an altitude of 1 km, hovered for about 8 minutes and landed safely.
Eviation Alice was introduced as a prototype in 2017. It is considered the first passenger aircraft originally developed as an electric aircraft for commercial use. The startup has garnered a lot of attention over the years and has even been compared to Tesla. Alice can accommodate up to 9 passengers and is suitable for short-haul regional flights. Last year, Eviation introduced the production version of its aircraft. Unfortunately, the claimed range has been reduced from 965 km to 708 km, but the rest of the specs, including the form factor, remain the same. At the same time, Eviation plans to develop battery technology to increase flight range.
Alice can be used for cargo transportation as well as passenger transportation. The aircraft has a length of 12 m, a wingspan of 16 m, a weight of 1.1 tons, and a maximum speed of 460 km / h. It is equipped with two engines of 850 hp each. each, plus a battery with a capacity of 900 kWh.
The first flight of an electric aircraft was made in the USA (Washington), because there it is easier to get a license from the US Civil Aviation Administration. The assembly and production of the first serial models will also take place in the USA. Currently, the company has received orders for 127 aircraft. Among the buyers is the company DHL, which is the leader in the international market for express delivery of goods. The first aircraft deliveries are expected in 2026.
Source: Port Altele
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