PISTON 5

VoltAero Pioneers

The French company VoltAero, which will be represented at AERO with its proof-of-concept electric aircraft, is convinced that an aircraft that is to usher in a new age of general aviation must also necessarily look futuristic. At the presentation of its planned Cassio aircraft family, VoltAero announced that it would develop three different models of the Cassio: a four-seat Cassio 330 powered by 330 kW; a Cassio 480 with room for six occupants; and a Cassio 600 powered by 600 kW of power and room for ten occupants. For the production of the aircraft family, the company is building a new plant in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region in the west of France. For the markets in North America and Asia, VoltAero does not intend to produce the aircraft itself, but to grant manufacturing licences.

Bye Aerospace, Safran Combine

The electric aircraft manufacturer Bye Aerospace from Denver in the US state of Colorado is working at full speed on the FAA certification of its first model, the two-seater eFlyer 2. The British flying school Skyborne Airline Academy announced, when it ordered ten eFlyers in July 2020, that it would receive an initial delivery in autumn 2022.

In parallel, the company founded by George E. Bye is developing the four-seat electric monoplane, eFlyer 4, which is to find its market as a travel, training and cargo aircraft. And in addition, the company is working on the development of the twin-engine electricpowered eFlyer 800 business jet, which is expected to have a range of 500 nautical miles (926 kilometres). For the development of the electric twin-engine aircraft, Bye Aerospace is working together with the French technology group Safran, which is supplying both the complete propulsion system with its ENGINeUS motors and the GENeUSGRID energy management system.

Right at the business twin’s unveiling in April 2021, potential customers underlined their interest in buying such an aircraft in the form of paid-up letters of intent to purchase, although there is no published programme schedule for the eFlyer 800 yet. According to the company, Bye Aerospace currently has no less than 135 paid letters of intent and options on its books for the eFlyer 800. For the single-engine eFlyer models, the company has more than 760 purchase intentions and options. The total number of entries in the order book is approaching the 900 mark, including 732 contracts backed by down payments.

Harbour Air’s eBeaver

As early as December 2019, a single-engine de Havilland Beaver converted to a 560 kW magni500 electric motor from magniX has flown for Canada’s Harbour Air. But, so far, Harbour Air has only been able to complete a little more than 30 test flights with its eBeaver to collect data, optimise the power settings and provide data for certification. The prototype has exceeded the expected performance. Next on the schedule are flights to determine the glide ratio of the aircraft, Harbour Air said.

But, before it can be flown again, the eBeaver must first undergo a mandatory routine inspection and will therefore not be available for test flights for a while. To speed up the testing, Harbour Air has decided to convert a second DHC-2 Beaver into an eBeaver. The aircraft with the registration C-FIFQ is already in the hangar for modification. All engine and fuel systems have already been removed and the airframe is being prepared for the installation of the new engine, Harbour Air announced. Due to the good performance, a four-blade variable pitch propeller from Hartzell was chosen for the second prototype. It offers an optimal balance between improved performance and low noise emissions.

E-flight is making progress on all fronts. Electric aircraft could be a normal sight on airfields sooner than most people imagine today. ■

Volker K. Thomalla

Head of Communication Aerospace Cluster MESSE FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH

HISTORIC EUROPE

AIRCRAFT VINTAGE • CLASSIC • WARBIRDS +44 208 255 4000 www.AvBuyer.com MAY 2022

TASC Masters

Not the New Kids on the Block

By Jamie Chalkley

RICHARD GRACE ANDY DURSTON JAMIE CHALKLEY

As the tale often goes, it’s about being in the right place at the right time [in life], and just ‘pre-Covid,’ my good friend Andy Durston said, “I’ve got a great idea!” Two months later, we were ‘TASC Vintage’. But as much as it was a new company, it definitely wasn’t a case of ‘New Kids on the Block’. Instead, it was the coming together of three like-minded individuals who’d been in the industry for a number of years independently (with occasional crossover) that decided to join forces and combine experience, connections and knowledge into one professional organisation that specialised in Vintage and Warbird transactions (and everything that goes with it!)

What's so special about us? Actually, we don’t think we’re ‘special’ at all! But we do count ourselves as incredibly fortunate and indeed privileged, not just to be living and working in aviation but to have the experiences we’ve had in some of the most historical aircraft on the planet (literally!) And having had a few decades of that each, our combined experience and worldwide connections are really quite something when brought all together.

The ‘Team’

Who are we? First, we have Mr. Richard Grace; Richard is a hugely experienced Warbird pilot and engineer and he knows first-hand the ins and outs of owning a 1940s plane, for his own aircraft is the much loved two-seat Spitfire Mk. IX ‘ML407’. Richard has been called to all corners of the globe to carry out inspections and test flights on numerous Warbird aircraft and various vintage types. He also has a wellknown display flying background and flies the Buchon in the brilliant four-ship close formation Warbird display team of The Ultimate Fighters. I’ve spent many an hour listening and learning from Richard’s technical knowledge; he is quite the craftsman and basically a walking encyclopaedia! Next we have Mr. Andy Durston; Andy is head of training on the fleet of Warbirds Richard operates. This includes Spitfires (various Mks), Mustangs, a pair of Buchons, a Thunderbolt, a Sea Fury and more! Andy is one of the most disciplined pilots I’ve ever flown with, which is what I guess you would expect from an exNavy Hawk and Harrier Pilot! Andy flies the Mustang in the Ultimate Fighters Display Team which if you’ve not checked out before, I highly recommend jumping onto a Google page, finding them, and checking out some of their displays.

And as for myself, I’m Jamie Chalkley and as for aviation opportunities, I feel like I won the lottery when it comes to finding good luck! My Grandfather was world renowned Warbird Hunter Jim Pearce, so from the age of ‘I can’t even remember’, I was lucky enough to be climbing over Warbirds and helping out around the hangar. That meant working from the ground up; cleaning, degreasing, pushing a wing and even making chocks — I’d have a go at anything that was on offer. Eventually, though my career path led me to helicopters after one day having a tour around a police helicopter and falling in love with the idea of chasing some bad guys!

After a mixture of professional flying and instructing I find myself today settled in a career of aircraft sales, consultancy (and still flying of course!) — this being between Eastern Atlantic Helicopters and TASC Vintage. So, if you want to land then stop, or stop then land… I’ve usually got something of interest to chat about! After some 500+ transactions and having been dropped in the deep end in some amazing places around the world, I still don’t believe for a second I’ve seen every variable, but I reckon I’ve seen and experienced more than my fair share. From finding ways to ground move aircraft over sand in the Sahara (not easy!) to working around volcanic eruptions in the Philippines, I love a challenge!