At least two Cessna 337s are flying on modified power systems – one with Ampaire in various locations around the world and one in France. VoltAero’s French Cessna push-pull twin has been turned into a tri-motor, with twin motors sprouting from the front of the craft’s tail booms. Like its American counterpart, VoltAero’s machine is a test bed for the planned power system that will mark its successor. VoltAero reveals its coming aircraft will feature a “barrel”-type arrangement of three 60 kilowatt electric motors ringing a central internal-combustion (thermal) engine. Jean Botti, CEO of VoltAero, explains the motor configuration is well-proven, having flown in the Cassio 1 demonstrator (the Cessna) since October last year. Since then, it’s been flown around …
