Hybrid-electric demonstrator aircraft EEL, developed by Ampaire, a US company formed in 2016, completed the longest-ever route flown by a hybrid-powered aircraft. The prototype performed a three-leg operation between Los Angeles, California, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The company’s test pilot, Elliot Seguin, took off from Camarillo Airport (KCMA) in the afternoon of last Wednesday, July 20th, en route to the Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV). On the first leg, the aircraft covered a distance of 69 nautical miles (128 kilometres).
The next day, the aircraft flew 934 nautical miles (1.730 kilometres) between Mojave and Hays Regional Airport (HYS) in Kansas. It remained there until Friday, July 22th, when it took off from the airfield and completed the journey to Oshkosh Wittman Regional Airport (OSH). The two points on the last leg are 573 nautical miles (1.061 kilometres) apart.
As stated by Ampaire, the model demonstrated fuel savings of up to 40% compared to the Cessna Skymaster, on which it is based. It is a hybrid-powered aircraft, with a conventional combustion engine and a separate electric system.
«By the time the EEL returns to California, it will have flown more miles than any hybrid-electric aircraft», said Susan Ying, Ampaire’s SVP of Global Partnerships. She added that the aircraft is flying «with great reliability» and demonstrating the potential of this type of propulsion.
Performance
The EEL is primarily a test aircraft for the development of high-power electronics, inverters, engines and related systems. According to Ampaire, it will function as a platform for the development of scalable technologies and realisation of certification processes. It will also offer an additional solution for operators of short-haul regional flights.
According to its developer, it can carry up to three passengers and a payload of up to 450 pounds (204 kilograms). It has a range of about 347 nautical miles (642 kilometres).
See also: Ampaire receives five firm orders for its Eco Caravan hybrid aircraft
