The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate for Bye Aerospace's eFlyer 2, permitting the all-electric trainer to begin flight testing. The certificate followed an FAA inspection of the first eFlyer 2 airframe at Centennial Airport, Colorado, covering the structure, electric propulsion system, instruments and other functional systems.
The aircraft's structural build was completed in July, following extended structural testing and propulsion validation on a truck-mounted rig, dubbed "The Beast," used to run the complete electric powertrain and verify aircraft systems on the ground ahead of final integration. Engineers subsequently carried out systems integration, additional electrical validation and operational ground testing before the FAA review.
The two-seat eFlyer 2 is powered by a Safran ENGINeUS electric motor rated at 150hp (110kW), uses magniX battery cells, and is designed for an endurance of roughly three hours and a cruise speed of about 84mph (135km/h). It was previously deemed eligible for certification under Part 23 Amendment 64, marking the FAA's first such eligibility finding for an all-electric aircraft type.
With ground testing concluded, Bye Aerospace will move into a phased flight-test campaign to progressively expand the aircraft's operating envelope. The company's combined order book for the eFlyer 2 and the larger four-seat eFlyer 4 exceeds 1,000 aircraft, with customers including Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology, Skyborne Academy, Flex Air Flight School and KLM Academy.
Source: Aerospace Testing International — read the original article