EV I ATION A L ICE
“Everything is created with
the lightest materials possible to
ensure the battery can take flight”
T he lightest possible materials
are needed for the world’s first
all-electric nine-passenger
commuter aircraft, Alice. Israeli OEM
Eviation is working to prepare the aircraft
to enter service in 2022 with the US
regional airline Cape Air. “We like to say
that we created basically a flying battery,
where everything is created with the
lightest materials possible to ensure the
battery can take flight,” says Konstantin
Ziman, chief designer at Eviation.
The company was formed in 2015 by
CEO Omer Bar-Yohay, a physicist with
electric propulsion expertise, and
chairman Aviv Tzidon, an entrepreneur.
Eviation believes that regional travel is a
growth sector. Alice’s range is 650 nautical
miles (1,204km) and at its cruise speed
(260kts) it could make its longest possible
journey in just over two hours.
At the 2019 Paris Air Show, Eviation
announced Cape Air had ordered a
“double digit” number of the aircraft. Cape
Air already operates dozens of nine-seat
commuter aircraft in North America.
FIRST LOOK
A prototype Alice with a fitted cabin
interior was on static display at the
airshow. “Most of the production aircraft
is being made with carbon fibre and other
composite materials,” says Ziman.
Structural components for Alice have
been made by French composites
specialist Multiplast. The prototype
Flight testing will
take place in Washington
state, while the electrical
systems are to be certified
at Eviation’s facility in
Prescott, Arizona, where
the production aircraft
are to be built
ALICE MILESTONES
2015
Eviation established; Honeywell and
Siemens appointed as suppliers
2017
Eviation presents a scale-model
autonomous demonstrator at
the Paris Air Show
MID-2018
Eviation begins talks with the FAA
2019/Q1 2020
Planned first flight
LATE 2021/EARLY 2022
Planned certification under Part 23
2022
Planned entry into service
businessjetinteriorsinternational.com
042 OCTOBER 2019
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