Electric Airplane Flies From NY to CA

[MIflyer]

Beta test pilots flew a CX300 electric aircraft from upstate New York to California with stops in 11 states.

After leaving Plattsburgh, the CX300 made stops at state and municipal airports in Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada en route to California. The electric aircraft's visits sparked considerable curiosity among local people at these airports.

Test pilots Nate Dubie and Noah Ranallo took turns flying the CX300. A small Beta road crew also made the trip to provide maintenance support and log flight data.

 

[Sabrejet]

Things are definitely progressing with electric: this is great to see

 

[Snautzer01]

Its exciting neh electrifing to life in an age were flight on a whole gets a new input.
Its like the Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines all over again. I like it very much.

 

[MIflyer]

That is a very substantial looking airplane, with considerable capacity and range. It's no ultralight or around-the-patch puddle jumper. Reminds me of a Star Trek shuttlecraft. And it is essentially in production. One is being shipped to Norway for use there.

On the other hand the Ilium company, with their electric powered VTOL urban taxis, has filed for bankruptcy.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I love reading about current events.

 

[Token]

OK, not a hater, not opposed to the tech at all. However, are they bragging about a coast to coast, with 11 stops, flight slow enough (cruising speed combined with charging times) for a ground crew in trucks to keep up and take telemetry?

So a cruise of 135 kts, a recharge time in the hour range, with max demonstrated range of 336 nm. You are not going to want to fly to max possible range for every stop, with no go-around or divert capability, so probably more like 250 nm usable max range. So fly for 2.5 hours (1.5 hours at cruise, 1 hour getting to and from cruise) and charge for ~1 hour for ~250 nm, make that an average of about 72 kts, if all goes well.

Why not truck it?

I realize it all has to start someplace, and this is early days. But right now, outside the aviation community understanding the issues with electric flight, I don't see how this would make much of a splash.

T!

 

[Sabrejet]

I love reading about current events.

I see what you did there.

 

[MIflyer]

Max range is 336 nm and max cruise speed is 135 kts. It can carry up to 5 passengers in case they want to go on a 3 hour tour, but that does not include the Skipper and Gilligan.

Recharge time is less than 1 hour. Obviously, long range is not its forte. They have flown it for a total of 22,000 miles on test flights.

They also are building a VTOL version, but elected to certify the conventional version first, figuring it would be easier.

Direct operating cost is said to be $28 an hour.

I love reading about current events.

I found that electrifying.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I see what you did there.

Watt did I do?!

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I found that electrifying.

Careful ... too much punnery is bound to inspire resistance.

 

[MIflyer]

Careful ... too much punnery is bound to inspire resistance.

Now, don't get short with us.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Now, don't get short with us.

Your impedance is not appreciated.

 

[Token]

Now, don't get short with us.

I don't know, I am pretty Amped about it all.

T!