Airliner Completes First Successful All-Electric Point-To-Point Test Flight

In a giant leap towards the promise of all-electric commercial flights, Canadian firm Harbour Air successfully completed its first point-to-point test flight using a retrofitted electric engine.

The historic flight took place on August 17, 2022, with the aircraft covering 45 miles in just 24 minutes, landing safely with “ample reserve power” left and marking a major milestone for the company.

“I am excited to report that this historic flight on the ePlane went exactly as planned,” reported Kory Paul, Harbour Air’s Vice President of Flight Operations.

“Our team as well as the team at magniX and Transport Canada are always closely monitoring the aircraft’s performance and today’s flight further proved the safety and reliability of what we have built,” he added.

This success is one step forward in the firm’s ambitious plan of becoming the world’s first all-electric airline. At the moment, as per Simple Flying, it runs seaplane transits, and could first adapt its all-electric model for this service.

MagniX, the electric motor manufacturer that partnered with Harbour Air on the project, also commented on the flight, saying it was “proud and honored to be a part of the innovators in the Electric Aviation industry changing the world for the better.”

Yesterday, Harbour Air's ePlane completed it's first ever point to point flight with the support of magniX! Congrats to everyone making history yet again! We are proud and honored to be a part of the innovators in the Electric Aviation industry changing the world for the better. pic.twitter.com/HjS2oVdfZO

— magniX (@magniX) August 18, 2022

[via Simple Flying and Harbour Air, cover image via Harbour Air]