ELECTRIC AND HYBRIDELECTRIC BUSINESS AIRCRAFT SET TO REVOLUTIONISE BUSINESS AVIATION

Finally, let’s look at a number of executive aircraft being developed that are designed to run on alternative technologies, chiefly on electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems.

Ampaire Is Retrofitting Existing Commuter Aircraft

Ampaire is a California-based company, which is currently looking at retrofitting existing commuter aircraft with hybrid-electric powertrains.

In the Summer of 2022, it staged the longest hybrid-electric flight so far, when it flew a converted Cessna 337 (which it calls the Electric Eel) from California to Kansas, a distance of over 1000 miles.

The aircraft that it intends to bring into service from the end of next year is the ‘EcoCaravan’, a converted Cessna Grand Caravan.

This already has pre-orders from Wing Tips, which offers private charters in California. Eventually, Wing Tips intends to order 175 aircraft from Ampaire for flights of between 100-400 mile distances.

As well as the Eco-Caravan, this will include Ampaire’s next aircraft, the Eco-Otter (a converted DH6 Twin Otter).