Bye Aerospace say hello to all-electric flight
US start-up Bye Aerospace has announced an eight-seat all-electric twin turbo-prop class aircraft, the eFlyer 800™, in response to growing demands for regional all-electric aircraft with significantly reduced operating costs, plus increased capacity and utility.
The Colorado-based start-up state that the aircraft’s 8-seat configuration consists of up to seven passengers and one or two pilots and will produce low operating costs than traditional twin turboprops and will be aimed at the air-taxi, air-cargo, regional and charter aircraft markets.
Bye Aerospace claim the eFlyer 800 will only have one-fifth the operating costs of traditional twin turboprops, produce no CO2 emissions, and will emit less noise. Bye Aerospace estimates the eFlyer will eventually eliminate the release of millions of metric tons of CO2 each year as its deliveries begin and the general aviation fleet is replaced.
“The eFlyer 800 is the first all-electric propulsion technology airplane that achieves twin-turboprop performance and safety with no CO2 and extremely low operating costs,” said George E. Bye, Bye Aerospace CEO. “This type of remarkable economy and performance is made possible by the electric propulsion system and advanced battery cell technology that results in significantly higher energy densities.”
Performance estimates for the eFlyer 800 include:
- Up to 320 knot cruise speed
- 35,000 feet ceiling
- 500 nm range
- 45-minute IFR reserves at normal cruise speed of 280 knots.
eFlyer 800 features:
- Two wing-mounted electric motors
- Quad-redundant battery packs and a full aircraft parachute
- Emergency auto-landing system
- Option for supplemental power solar cells and in-wheel electric taxi
Bye Aerospace is in the process of obtaining FAA Part-23 certification for the eFlyer 2 for the professional flight training mission and the four-seat eFlyer 4 for air taxi, cargo and advanced training uses. All the company’s current and future families of aircraft feature engineering, research and electric aircraft solutions designed to specifically address compelling market needs.