Flying on a wing and a battery

May 15, 2008

As an electric glider is set to hit the market, progress is being made toward mass-produced, personal, electric aircraft that enthusiasts hope will become the greenest form of transportation.

Electric-powered commercial jets may still be a figment of the imagination, but smaller electric aircraft are already making it to market. Taurus Electro gliders are set to be produced by year's end, which could make them the first two-seater, commercially produced electric aircraft available for purchase.

Pipistrel of Slovenia sells this and other non-electric Taurus gliders, which have won prizes for efficiency. CEO Ivo Boscarol said customers who have ordered the company's other lightweight craft are closely eyeing the new, "greener" electric model, which will cost around US$133,000, or 85,000 euros.

The Federal Aviation Administration considers electric aircraft experimental, so they can't be flown under the same rules as light sport aircraft. However, the Experimental Aircraft Association last week asked the FAA to change the classifications, and expects a decision within about six months. If the rule changes, the US market for personal, electric aircraft is likely to expand.
Credit: Pipistrel