I really <3 the Pipistrel Alpha Electro, which is also the first electric plane to be certified for use in flight training in the US
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I got to go to a demonstration of the non-electric version of the exact same plane in November, and in April they received FAA approval (congrats Pipistrel!)https://twitter.com/starsandrobots/status/990761254141607936 …
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Just listen - listen - to the sound an electric plane makes when it spins uphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXWWRg2tdFo …
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Electric aviation is fascinating, and might make aviation more sustainable and more accessible — the "fuel" is cheaper, and potentially sustainably sourced, but you also have lower expected maintenance costs for fewer moving parts covered in far less grease.
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Two flight schools in California have adopted the Electro Alpha. The first with support from the city of Fresno, is working on installing charging plants at 3 airports nearby to each other. https://sustainableaviationproject.com (and https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article209168169.html …)
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They claim to potentially be able to bring the cost of flying down by 2 orders of magnitude https://thebusinessjournal.com/fresno-county-electric-planes/ …
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The other operation that's adopting the Alpha Electro is also extremely cool — "Tomorrow's Air Museum" https://www.tamuseum.org based at Compton airport teaches inner city kids about flying, with involvement from Tuskegee Airmen(!)
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It's going to be so great to track these early-adopters as they lead the vanguard of a whole new era of aviation/flight.
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Today, Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum is demonstrating this electric airplane at Chino airport. Here it is:pic.twitter.com/BSaYHk92lU
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How quiet is it?
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SO quiet. Creepy quiet. You can sneak up on birds. I saw the plane get within probably 5m of some kind bird of prey that was flying across the runway. Watching it take off you feel like someone pressed a mute button. Road noise from nearby passing cars is louder.
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Weirdly, it’s somewhat louder inside than it is to external observers (though still fairly quiet.)
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Love it. There's apparently only one in BC right now and it's not at a flight school (https://www.skiesmag.com/news/charging-ahead/ …) but if/when I learn to fly I want it to be in one of these.
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Same. I hope they eventually approve for a full PPL but I will settle for being an LSA pilot until such time. Sustainable aviation
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Fantastic! (Wanting an endorsement on this)
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