Rolls Royce’s Electric Plane Makes its Maiden Flight

The aviation industry, much like the automobile industry, is making a push towards electric power, and the British carmaker Rolls-Royce seems to be leading the way as its all-electric plane called “Spirit of Innovation” made its maiden flight on Friday.

The Spirit of Innovation completed its ground trials back in March and on 17 September the aircraft made its 15-minute maiden flight outside Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. The flight marked the beginning of flight tests which will log performance data for the aircraft. Rolls-Royce says that during these tests their main focus will be on the electrical and propulsion system of the plane.

Rolls-Royce further says that the airplane has the most power-dense battery pack of 6000 cells which generate 500 horsepower with the three-motor powertrain and that the aircraft can reach a top speed of 300 miles per hour, which is a great milestone for the first electric aircraft.

Rolls-Royce is also working to develop an air taxi with Tecnam (an Italian Aeronautics Manufacturer) as part of its goal of delivering an electric plane for the commuter market, says Gizmochina.

The transition of the aviation industry from fossil fuels to electric power will significantly cut down on greenhouse emissions but there is the challenge of finding the right balance and weight for optimal performance. Nevertheless, aviation enthusiasts will soon receive news on interesting developments as more manufacturers unveil their projects.

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