H55 says the flight is a “stepping-stone” for the development of electric propulsion systems designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and flying taxis.

BRM Aero’s Bristell Energic has flown for the first time, powered by H55’s electric propulsion system.

The Bristell Energic is a two-seater fully electric aeroplane to be used for pilot training and flight schools. It has an endurance of 1.5 hours, providing 45-60 minutes of mission flight.

H55, which is a spin-off of Solar Impulse, says the flight is a “stepping-stone” for the development of electric propulsion systems for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and flying taxis.

‘Transformative’

André Borschberg, former CEO and Pilot of Solar Impulse, and now H55’s Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, said: “Electric air transport will deeply transform and improve urban mobility. Electric propulsion has enabled the world of drones, it will do the same for aviation.

“The Bristell Energic is a stepping-stone for the development of such new aviation transport solutions, where the challenge will be safety and certification. By having our electric airplanes fly and monitoring their performance, H55 will continue to build up big data essential for the development of VTOLs and flying taxis.”

BRM Aero’s Founder and CEO, Milan Bristell, said he sees continued growth in: “The emergence of civil aviation in large markets such as China and India requires pilot training with a real flight trainer with a maximum take-off weight equal to or above 750 KG. The market is impatient for an electric airplane and our goal at Bristell is to be able to respond to this with a flight trainer which is clean, quiet and affordable to operate”.

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