Prototype electric airplane takes first flight in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Eviation's "Alice", the world's first all-electric commuter airplane, soars through the sky during its first flight on September 27, 2022 in Moses Lake, Washington. Piloted by Eviation's Chief Test Pilot Steve Crane, th
MOSES LAKE, Wash. - A prototype, all-electric airplane took its first flight Tuesday morning in central Washington state.
The Seattle Times reports that if the Federal Aviation Administration eventually certifies the small airplane to carry passengers, it could become the first all-electric commercial airplane.
MOSES LAKE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Eviation's "Alice", the world's first all-electric commuter airplane, takes off for its first flight at 7:10 am on September 27, 2022 in Moses Lake, Washington. Piloted by Eviation's Chief Test Pilot Steve Crane, the fl
The plane, built by startup Eviation, was built to carry nine passengers and up two pilots and took off from Moses Lake, Washington, at 7:10 a.m. Tuesday. The plane landed eight minutes later.
The company’s goal is to show such electric planes are viable as commuter aircraft flying at an altitude of about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters).
MOSES LAKE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Eviation's "Alice", the world's first all-electric commuter airplane, takes off for its first flight at 7:10 am on September 27, 2022 in Moses Lake, Washington. Piloted by Eviation's Chief Test Pilot Steve Crane, the fl
The plane, designed by engineers in Washington state and Israel, is powered by 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells.
The Associated Press Contributed to this article.