All-electric Spirit of Innovation makes first taxi run
Spirit of Innovation, an all-electric aircraft being developed to set speed records and open-up new concepts in urban air mobility, has successfully completed its first taxi run.
The taxiing of Rolls-Royce’s ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is a critical test of the integration of the aircraft’s propulsion system ahead of flight-testing in the spring.
Rolls-Royce believes that at full power the combination of 500hp [400kw] electrical powertrain and advanced battery system will power the aircraft to over 300mph, setting a new world speed record for electric flight.
Interview: ATI’s Mark Scully on innovations in aviation propulsion
Rolls-Royce and Airbus cancel E-Fan X project
The ACCEL programme (Accelerating the Electrification of Flight) includes YASA, the electric motor and controller manufacturer, and aviation start-up Electroflight.
In a statement, Rob Watson, director – Rolls-Royce Electrical, said: “Electrification of flight is an important part of our sustainability strategy as we aim for net zero carbon by 2050. Taxiing of the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is an incredible milestone for the ACCEL team as we progress to first flight and the world-record attempt later this year.
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
Experts speculate over cause of Iberian power outages
I´m sure politicians will be thumping tables and demanding answers - while Professor Bell, as reported above, says ´wait for detailed professional...