Hybrid Caravan’s first flight

A hybrid Caravan made its first flight on 18 November in California, as AVweb reported online. The aircraft flew to an altitude of 3,500ft for a total flight time of thirty- three minutes. During the flight various powertrain parameters were tested and evaluated, and no issues were reported.

The hybrid propulsion system of the aircraft is built around a diesel, which charges a battery, that in turn powers the electric motor which drives the propeller. The aircraft was developed by sustainable aviation company Ampaire, which says that the hybrid Caravan will have lower operating costs than a conventional Cessna Caravan, with a greater range and the same payload.