World’s First Electric Passenger Aircraft: Features & Utility

World’s First Electric Passenger Aircraft: Features & Utility

Question: The world’s first electric passenger aircraft to gain an airworthiness certificate has recently been invented in China. Highlight the utility of this innovative invention.

About the Aircraft

• The world’s first electric passenger aircraft BX1E has a wingspan of 14.5 m and a maximal payload of 230 kgs

• It can fly at the altitude of 3,000 metres

• The electric aircraft is rapidly changed within two hours allowing the flight time of 45 minutes to 1 hour

• The aircraft can travel at a maximum speed of 160 km per hour

• The airplane has been designed by Shenyang Aerospace University and Liaoning general aviation academy in northeastern Liaoning province

• Each aircraft costs around USD 163,000

Utility

Aircraft can be used for the following purposes:

• Pilot training
• Tourism
• Meteorology
• Rescue Operations
• This electric aircraft is also eco friendly because electricity runs from fuel cells, solar cells, ultra capacitors, batteries or power beaming
• Earlier electric aircrafts were merely demo models
• The BX1E is also very easy to use
• It has low operating cost as each hour of flight costs only 20 yuan , inclusive of 5 yuan for battery charging
• It is easy to maintain
• It ensures high safety levels

Facts and Stats

• First manned, electricity powered flight was carried out in 1973

• The BX1E has maximum takeoff weight of 480 kg and cruise speed of up to 160 km per hour

• The BX1E can fly 90 minutes based on a single charging of its batteries

• It can carry loads of up to over 230 km