Beta Technologies has announced plans to produce the CX300 electric aircraft, a fixed-wing version of the Alia eVTOL announced in 2020, through a certification process for regional medical, cargo, defense and passenger applications.
Development of the beta Alia electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft began with work on flight controllers and algorithms nearly five years ago, before the current prototype managed its first hover in 2020. ) version is also being prototyped, allowing the company to collect more performance data and simultaneously hover and fly with wings.
“We have been flying eCTOL prototypes from airport to airport for several years to drive technological advances in propulsion and systems, and now, in addition to eVTOL aircraft, there is a distinct market for this product. It turns out there is,” said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of the company. “Global operators are looking for practical solutions that can help them meet their sustainability commitments. After seeing the cost and performance of this prototype, our customers are eager to integrate it into their aircraft.” With known certifications and operational paths, this aircraft represents an opportunity to bring electric aircraft to market and into the hands of our customers as quickly as possible.”
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Its eCTOL flavor, dubbed the CX300, has so far logged over 22,000 miles (35,400 km) and is said to be the only electric aircraft to fly in busy Class B and C airspace. of weather conditions. U.S. Air Force, Army, and FAA Tests His pilot conducted evaluation flights to assess capabilities. The company has demonstrated that the aircraft allows him to fly 386 miles (620 km) between Jamestown, New York and Plattsburgh, New York on a single charge.
Beta reports that the Alia-250 eVTOL is already well on its way through the Federal Aviation Administration’s certification program. Applications for type certification under the FAA’s Part 23 Small Aircraft Regulations for the fixed-wing variant have been going on since last year, and the company said it “saves validation of our high-performance solution” thanks to his two aircraft sharing the same airframe. can. Battery, propulsion and system design.
Beta is currently putting the finishing touches on its production facility in South Burlington, Vermont, with final assembly and manufacturing of the CX300 expected to begin in the coming months. If all else goes according to plan, the company is set to begin deliveries to customers from 2025, and network operators such as Air New Zealand, Bristow and United Therapeutics are keen to electrify their future fleet. We’ve already placed an order for the CX300 because we’re looking into it.
Meanwhile, Beta is building a multimodal charging network across the United States to support the switch to electric vehicles. It is designed to support third-party e-flyers and electric vehicles. We currently have 9 sites online, with 15 more in production by the end of the year and over 50 in development.
Source: Beta Technology
