China Daily reports, “The world’s first electric passenger aircraft to gain an airworthiness certificate has been produced by China.” Whether the “first” certification statement is true will probably become a matter of debate, with Pipistrel’s Alpha Electro being certified in France and seeking more general approvals from other countries including America. Pipistrel has been selling a Taurus Electro G2 self-launching sailplane for the last several years, and makes the following claims for it. “Taurus Electro G2 is the only electric 2-seat aeroplane in serial production available on the market. Furthermore, Pipistrel believes it is the only truly useful electric aircraft out there, because the electric drive is applied to the glider airframe, where battery capacity is not a limiting factor in performance/endurance. Taurus Electro G2 represents a leap forward in performance, safety, functionality and user friendliness.” We noted the RX1E’s certification in the blog a few months ago. It’s in production in China with the first two aircraft delivered to Liaoning …
Belite – Going Electric?
Even to the casual observer, interest in electric flight is growing. Major news outlets followed Solar Impulse, especially as it began its journey from Japan to Hawaii. The fluster of cross-English-Channel attempts combined daring and rivalries – great for a public appetite voracious for sensation. With big companies investing significant sums in the new technology, and with demonstrated efficiency of small craft that won 2011’s Green Flight Challenge, designers can’t help but respond to the ongoing challenge. James Wiebe, founder and owner of Belite Aircraft, has a response that will be welcomed by aviators who might not be able to fly because of their budget. He’s introduced the SkyDock low-wing ultralight at Oshkosh’s AirVenture 2015 this week at an introductory price of $3,995 for the basic kit. Basic means no wheels, tires, cables, brakes, fabric, paint, glue or instruments. Wiebe explains on his Facebook page, “We plan to have an option package for most of that stuff. It’s all off …