Rolls-Royce’s All-Electric Airplane Sets Three New Speed Records
Advances in electric motors and battery technology have triggered an explosion in the field of electric airplanes. Battery-powered electric aircraft could be the future of aviation.
A raft of companies are making green aircraft. EasyJet with Wright Electric, Boeing with Zunum, and Airbus with Siemens are all in the race to create electric aircraft to go green.
Now, the aero-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has developed an electric plane named “Spirit of Innovation”.
The battery-powered aircraft sets three new world records!
Powered by 400kW (535 HP), 750-volt motor, Spirit of Innovation successfully smashed the speed record for an all-electric plane. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 623 km/h (387.4 mph) during its test flight that lasted for 11 minutes. The aircraft took to the skies at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down experimental aircraft testing site last week.
The Spirit of Innovation achieved 330mph over 9.3 miles (15km), 182mph faster than the previous record. It also smashed the fastest climb record by climbing 3,000 meters in 202 seconds and achieved the top speed of 345.4 MPH over a 3 km (1.86 miles) course.
The flight data has been submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for certifications and official confirmation of three new speed records.
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