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Ampaire reached a monumental achievement with a 12-hour endurance flight on Dec. 10 with its hybrid Electric EEL demonstrator aircraft.
The record endurance flight was flown on Sunday in Camarillo, California using the EEL demonstrator. Ampaire believes this flight will set a new record for hybrid electric aircraft endurance with a flight lasting exactly 12 hours, and with over two hours of fuel and battery reserves remaining. The EEL demonstrator is a major turning point in the advancement of high-powered electronics, inverters, motors and associated systems. The aircraft has been a foundation for Ampaire's innovative AMP-H570 AMP Drive hybrid electric propulsion unit, currently flying the Ampaire Eco Caravan. In the Eco Caravan, there was been a 50 to 70 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to traditional Pratt andamp; Whitney PT6 turboprop engines.
On Nov. 18, 2022 Ampaire successfully flew the Eco Caravan for the first time. The nine-seat regional aircraft has a fully integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system. At the time of the flight, Ampaire revealed it expected the Eco Caravan to be the first electrified regional aircraft to enter commercial service when it achieves certification in 2024. This aircraft was the first in a series from Ampaire, with larger hybrid-electric aircraft to follow.
On Aug. 13 the EEL successfully landed at the Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) following a 3,400-mile series of flights from Southern California. This marked the first deployment in Alaska, the first international flight and the first aircraft to gain both FAA and TCCA special airworthiness approvals. This trip was the farthest north any hybrid-electric aircraft has ever flown, thanks to the deployment of mobile electric aircraft chargers in Alaska and Canada. The EEL demonstrator handled the challenging terrain and weather in Alaska, navigating wildfire smoke, rain and rugged terrain on its journey.
Ampaire has achieved incredible firsts since the 2019 maiden flight of its Electric EEL technology testbed aircraft. The company completed the longest flight for an electric aircraft with its EEL, making the 1,135-mile journey from Los Angeles to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The record endurance flight took 12 hours to complete, spanning 1,375 miles and is an incredible step in Ampaire's development of an electric aircraft.RELATED STORIES:Ampaire makes first-ever hybrid-electric flight into Silicon ValleyAmpaire flies hybrid-electric Cessna to Alaska in milestone flightAmpaire successfully flies Eco Caravan, taking a step toward sustainable aviation
"Through this groundbreaking mission, Ampaire has shattered the conventional boundaries of electrified flight, underscoring our relentless pursuit of transformative vehicle performance and commercial utility," Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker said. "Our unique hybrid electric solutions deliver unparalleled operating economics and unlock endurance and operational flexibility critical to www.ampaire.com our customer's needs. The indomitable spirit of innovation within the entire Ampaire team propels us forward on this journey toward a sustainable future. It is a testament to our lasting commitment to pioneering excellence."