Electric-hybrid plane backed by taxpayers takes first UK flight

A HYBRID-POWERED passenger plane has completed a test flight from Exeter to Newquay to demonstrate the feasibility of the technology.

A specially modified Cessna 337 Skymaster with a battery-driven propeller on its nose and a conventionally powered rear engine made the 85-mile flight yesterday.

Developed by Us-based Ampaire, the “EEL” plane carried two pilots on the flight, which took 25 minutes at a speed of 120mph and an altitude of 5,000ft.

Ampaire has already run a series of test flights in the US but has come to Britain to show the tech can work in more challenging conditions.

Andrew Rae, Ampaire UK’S chief engineer, said: “We need to show that this can work where it’s not skyblue weather all the time.

“The idea of the test flights here is to show that the technology is viable on a route not currently served and which other methods of transport are difficult.”

The test flights are also intended to understand the infrastructure needed to service hybrid flights.

Ampaire’s aircraft uses the electric power system to help with take-off and climbing to cruising altitude, which is by far the most energy-intensive part of the flight.

Having the conventional engine supplemented by electric power also reduces noise as the aircraft departs.

Mr Rae said: “Most of the energy consumed in any flight is when you are fighting gravity getting into the air. Using electricity to help makes flights a lot more economical.”

Ampaire believes that using its system, which takes about 90 minutes to recharge once on the ground, makes the Exeter-newquay

‘We need to show this can work where it’s not sky-blue weather all the time’

route 75pc cheaper than traditional aircraft.

However, Mr Rae said that the Skymaster was yet to be approved by regulators.

Ampaire aims to install its system in larger aircraft that can carry 19 passengers.

The UK wants to be a leader in the green aviation race and Ampaire’s research is partly being funded by taxpayer funds, with the consortium awarded £2.4m from UK Research and Innovation’s £30m Future Flight Challenge.