Zero-Emission Personal Aircraft Powered by Electricity
Yuneec’s E430 is a twin seat, single engine, LSA class aircraft with a significant difference to every commercially available plane that has come before it – it’s entirely electric. The lightweight composite-construction E430 charges in three hours from a domestic 230 volt powerpoint, runs for two and half hours on a charge and the all-up cost will be USD$89,000 when it goes on sale this time next year.
The plane made its maiden flight in the hands of test pilot Shun Xun on June 12 at the Yuneec factory near Shanghai, China, and is reportedly both very quiet and vibration-free.
The E430 is designed with simplicity as its main user benefit – low maintenance, simple to fly, and with the experience of flight significantly enhanced by the low noise and lack of vibration.
The plane was loaded into a container this afternoon for shipping to California where it will undergo FAA certification testing before its international debut at the Oshkosh EAA AirVenture 2009 next month.
Source: Gizmag
