The world’s longest-ever flight by an electrically-powered aircraft, capable of taking off and landing from a fixed position, took place on 23 February. The futuristic-looking aircraft flew 250.3 kilometres without landing.
AutoFlight’s fourth-generation aircraft design, called “Prosperity I”, was developed under the leadership of renowned car designer Frank Stephenson. The graceful air taxi, specially optimised for short-haul passenger transport, was flown on a predetermined route at the company’s test airfield near Augsburg, completing the circuit 20 times.
Between take-off and landing, the Prosperity I, equipped with a remote-controlled control system with a high degree of autonomy, covered a total distance of 250.3 kilometres during the record flight, setting a new world record: the previous record of 248 kilometres was set by Joby Aviation in July 2021 from the Electric Flight Base in Big Sur, California.
The air taxi, equipped with lithium-ion batteries, is expected to be the first to receive approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which means that the futuristic mini aircraft could be ready for passenger flights in 2025. Of course, this will still require consultation with the authorities and municipalities of the planned service areas.
AutoFlight’s Prosperity I: An Electric Plane with Impressive Speed and Range
AutoFlight has designed an electric plane that has caught the attention of aviation enthusiasts. The Prosperity I uses a combination of elevator propellers and wing and pusher propellers to take off and land, then fly forward. This innovative design allows the plane to reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h and fly up to 250 km on a single charge, an achievement that the company claims to have successfully accomplished.
However, it is worth noting that the record-breaking flight was conducted without any passengers on board, resulting in a much lower take-off mass. The plane’s performance with a full passenger load could be impacted, and further tests are necessary to assess its safety and suitability for commercial use.
Electric planes are becoming increasingly popular due to their environmental benefits, including lower emissions and noise pollution. As the aviation industry strives to reduce its carbon footprint, companies like AutoFlight are working to develop viable electric alternatives.
Despite their potential benefits, electric planes are not without challenges. Limited battery range, higher costs, and the need for improved infrastructure are just some of the obstacles that must be overcome. Nevertheless, with technological advancements and increased investment, electric aviation could become a reality sooner than we think.
In conclusion, the Prosperity I is an exciting development in the world of electric aviation, but it is important to keep in mind the limitations of its record-breaking flight. As the industry continues to innovate, we can look forward to a future with cleaner, more efficient air travel.
Source: futureflight.aero
Recent article
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
The Sky’s the Limit: How Cloud Computing is Revolutionizing Flying Cars and eVTOLs
News & Articles Points of interest
Soaring Into the Future: The Adoption of Flying Cars and eVTOLs
News & Articles Points of interest
The Revolutionary Roller-Quadrotor: A Chinese Hybrid Unicycle with Military Applications
Air taxi News & Articles
Ascending to the Future: The Air Taxi Revolution in Chicago
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Pioneering the Future of Air Mobility: Ras el-Haimah’s Vertiport Development
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Luxurious Legacy of Rolls-Royce: Soaring to New Heights in Aerospace
A Century of Excellence
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Zero Avia’s Hydrogen-Electric Propulsion Breakthrough: A Closer Look at the Do-228’s Successful Flight
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
China Airlines: 7 years at the Top of the Global Airline Industry Sustainability Ranking
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
EU’s Revolutionary €350 Million Aviation Advancement Initiative
Flying Cars News & Articles
What would be the cost of owning and operating a flying car compared to conventional cars and airplanes, and what factors would influence this cost ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Role of 3D Printing for Future Aircraft: Soaring to New Heights
Flying Cars News & Articles
The Future of Travel: Luxury Flying Cars for Family Holidays
Drones News & Articles
Autonomous Drones Revolutionizing IKEA Warehouses
Electric airplane News & Articles
Pioneering the Conventional Electric Aircraft: Beta Technologies’ Innovative Approach
Flying Cars News & Articles
Soaring Above the Horizon: The Doroni H1 Flying Car
Drones News & Articles
Drone to Saturn’s moon
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Recent Test Flight Success Marks a Milestone in Eco-Friendly Air Travel
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What Advances in Battery Technology are Needed to Make Electric Aircraft More Practical and Widely Usable ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
How Can Artificial Intelligence Help eVTOLs Improve Flight Safety ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Unfolding the Sky: How Aviation Authorities Classify and Certify eVTOL Aircraft for Commercial Use
Drones News & Articles
A New Era in Postal Services: Embracing Drone Technology in Japan
Blending Tradition and Innovation
Flying Cars News & Articles
360-speed flying cars will race against each other next year
Drones News & Articles
Drones Measuring Radioactivity for Optimizing Crop Yield
News & Articles Points of interest
Indian Army Looks to Deploy Soldiers with Rocket Packs for Enhanced Mobility
Drones News & Articles
Hungary’s BME collaborates with MouldTech Systems to develop a unique fixed-wing drone
Drones News & Articles
DJI’s AeroScope Drone Detection System Disappears from Webshop: What Does It Mean for the Company ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
JPMorgan Analyst Recommends Eve Holding as Top Investment in Emerging eVTOL Market
Air taxi News & Articles
SK Telecom Plans to Launch Flying Taxis in 2025, with a Virtual Reality Preview at MWC
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
CycloTech Received Operational Authorization for Outdoor Flights
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The first hydrogen-powered Dash 8 takes to the air
Flying Cars News & Articles
Flying ambulance from Liberty
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Prosperity I covered 250.3 kilometres in a single run
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The role of hydrogen as a fuel for aviation
Electric airplane News & Articles
What are the current limitations of electric aircraft technology ?
Drones News & Articles
What role for drones in future agriculture ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Which countries could be leaders in the production of Evtol and Vtol aircraft in the next few years ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
What are the infrastructure and technological requirements for a vertiport and how much does it cost to build and operate a vertiport ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
A new motorsport is born
Flying Cars News & Articles
Self-driving flying car a success in Japan
News & Articles Points of interest
15 kg flying robot spider built in Japan
More articles you may be interested in...
Drones News & Articles
Drone to Saturn’s moon
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Recent Test Flight Success Marks a Milestone in Eco-Friendly Air Travel
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What Advances in Battery Technology are Needed to Make Electric Aircraft More Practical and Widely Usable ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
How Can Artificial Intelligence Help eVTOLs Improve Flight Safety ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
Flying ambulance from Liberty
SkyAngels Air Ambulance operates emergency ambulances - now the fleet has been expanded with a.......... READ MORE
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Prosperity I covered 250.3 kilometres in a single run
The world's longest-ever flight by an electrically-powered aircraft, capable of taking off and landing from.......... READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The role of hydrogen as a fuel for aviation
As the world moves towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, the aviation industry is faced.......... READ MORE
Electric airplane News & Articles
What are the current limitations of electric aircraft technology ?
Electric aircraft have been hailed as the future of aviation, offering the potential to reduce.......... READ MORE
Drones News & Articles
What role for drones in future agriculture ?
Drones have come a long way since their inception and have found applications in various.......... READ MORE
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Which countries could be leaders in the production of Evtol and Vtol aircraft in the next few years ?
The demand for more efficient and sustainable transportation options has led to an increased interest.......... READ MORE
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
What are the infrastructure and technological requirements for a vertiport and how much does it cost to build and operate a vertiport ?
With the growing popularity of urban air mobility, the concept of vertiports has received considerable.......... READ MORE
Flying Cars News & Articles
A new motorsport is born
Alauda Aeronautics has been working on improving the Airspeeder aircraft for the EXA air eVTOL.......... READ MORE