234250
234155

BC  

Harbour Air tests world's first commercial electric seaplane

Electric test flight a success

UPDATE: 11 a.m.

Harbour Air reports that it successfully conducted the first test flight of an all-electric seaplane today in Richmond.

The first test flight was originally to have taken place tomorrow, but was moved up to today due to weather, according to The Canadian Press.

“Today, we made history,” the company said in a tweet. “Launching the world’s first electric commercial aircraft retrofitted with a 750 horsepower all-electric magni500 propulsion system.”

– Business in Vancouver


ORIGINAL: 6:40 a.m.

The world's first all-electric commercial aircraft is set to lift off Tuesday from the Harbour Air Seaplane terminal in Richmond.

The seaplane company announced in March that it had partnered with engineering firm MagniX in Washington state with the goal of becoming the world's first all-electric airline.

Harbour Air CEO Greg McDougall says in a video statement that he's convinced the future of aviation is electrified and he's proud to be part of the conversion to e-planes.

The test flight was moved up from Wednesday to avoid a change in the weather in the Vancouver area and McDougall will be the pilot of the retrofitted Beaver seaplane during the test.

The plane is powered by a 750 horsepower electric motor.

Harbour Air covers 12 routes and operates about 30,000 flights a year between Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle and other locations.



More BC News