SA firm Eyre to There makes inaugural electric aircraft flight
South Australia’s first ever flight this week by a fully electric aeroplane could be the precursor to up to 100 aircraft being built in the state each year by Adelaide’s Eyre to There.
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South Australia’s first ever flight this week by a fully electric aeroplane could be the precursor to up to 100 aircraft being built in the state each year.
SA aviator Barrie Roberts took to the skies over Parafield airport on Wednesday after clinching a deal with European aircraft maker Pipistrel to import 15 assembled Alpha Electro aircraft from its Slovenia HQ for demonstration and training opportunities.
Mr Roberts’ Eyre to There Aviation company will then look at setting up an assembly line in Adelaide to mass manufacture the two seater planes before selling them to flight schools across Australia.
Technology has been the spur to the deal said Mr Roberts who has previously run Parafield and Port Lincoln airports.
“Technology is moving quickly, we are in the early iphone stage at the moment. Electric aircraft are cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, are significantly quieter than conventional aircraft and don’t rely on fossil fuels. And they are ideally suited for short range flight training activities,” he said.
“There are more than 250 registered flight schools in Australia using more than 3400 training aircraft.”
Flight school are ideal for the electric planes Mr Barrie said with beginners typically only spending 10 minutes in the air. The electric battery has a 60 minute time range with a 30 minute back-up.
The planes cost about $220,000, can fly at 157kmph and come with a remarkable running cost of just $26.70 per hour.