Working To Install An Electric Motor On A 1956 Model Aircraft

Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air hopes to soon be flying an electric-powered 1956 Mk 1 deHavilland Beaver as a proof-of-concept airplane. But eventually, the carrier hopes to have a fleet of electric-powered airplanes.

According to the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA), the airplane is being converted in concert with Seattle, WA-based magniX, which has roots in Australia.

So far, magniX has traveled to Vancouver to oversee the mounting of the electric motor. Still to come are the installation of batteries and a battery management unit. The airplane has been painted in a special livery, adding the logo "ePlane".

When the plane flies, which Harbour Air hopes will be by the end of this year, it will not be an airplane that can potentially carry passengers. The weight of the batteries would reduce the useful load of the aircraft to a point that it would not be commercially viable. But as battery technology improves, the company is hopeful that it can be among the first to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. And, the company sees safety benefits in using electric motors. “Electric motors are extremely reliable,” said founder and CEO of Harbour Air Greg McDougall. “They don’t have the same number of moving parts as a turbine or piston engine and they have much better durability.”

(Image provided by Harbour Air)

FMI: Source report