Eviation Alice Completes Maiden Flight

Dark/Light Mode (29/09/22)  Alice, an all-electric aircraft manufactured by Eviation, conducted its maiden flight on Tuesday.

The aircraft took off at 07:10 from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet.

The flight was used to provide Eviation with invaluable data that will enable the company to further optimize the aircraft for commercial production.

Alice is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units from magniX. Other key suppliers include AVL (battery support), GKN (wings), Honeywell (advanced fly-by-wire system, flight controls and avionics), Multiplast (fuselage), Parker Aerospace (six technology systems), and Potez (doors).

Alice is expected to be available in three variants: a nine-passenger commuter, a six-passenger executive cabin and a cargo version. All configurations support two crew members.

Eviation Alice takes off on maiden flight

The aircraft has a maximum operating speed of 260 knots and maximum load of 2,500 lbs for the passenger variant and 2,600 lbs for the cargo version.

“Today we embark on the next era of aviation – we have successfully electrified the skies with the unforgettable first flight of Alice,” said Eviation President and CEO Gregory Davis. “People now know what affordable, clean and sustainable aviation looks and sounds like for the first time in a fixed-wing, all-electric aircraft. This ground-breaking milestone will lead innovation in sustainable air travel, and shape both passenger and cargo travel in the future.”

Eviation Alice is expected to be used on flights ranging from 150 to 250 miles.

Cape Air and Global Crossing Airlines, both US-based regional airlines, have placed orders for 75 and 50 Alice aircraft, respectively.

DHL Express is Eviation’s first cargo customer, with an order of 12 Alice eCargo planes.

“The first flight of Alice represents a transformational milestone for the aviation industry,” said Cape Air Founder and Board Chairman Dan Wolf. “We currently fly more than 400 regional flights per day, connecting more than 30 cities across the United States and Caribbean. Alice can easily cover 80 percent of our flight operations, bringing sustainable, emission-free travel to the communities we serve.”