Rolls-Royce’s all-electric ‘Spirit of Innovation’
aircraft completed its maiden flight on Wednesday.
The plane took to the skies propelled by its
powerful 400kW (500+hp) electric powertrain with the most
power-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft.
The flight is
another step towards the plane’s world-record attempt and another
milestone on the aviation industry’s journey towards decarbonisation.
Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said, “The first
flight of the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is a great achievement for
the ACCEL team and Rolls-Royce. We are focused on producing the
technology breakthroughs society needs to decarbonise transport
across air, land and sea, and capture the economic opportunity of
the transition to net zero. This is not only about breaking a
world record; the advanced battery and propulsion technology
developed for this programme has exciting applications for the
Urban Air Mobility market and can help make ‘jet zero’ a reality.”
The aircraft took off from the UK Ministry of
Defence’s Boscombe Down site, which is managed by QinetiQ and flew
for approximately 15 minutes.
The site has a long heritage of
experimental flights and the first flight marks the beginning of
an intense flight-testing phase, collecting
valuable performance data on the aircraft’s electrical power and
propulsion system.
Kwasi Kwarteng, UK’s Business Secretary, said, “The first
flight of Rolls-Royce’s revolutionary Spirit of Innovation
aircraft signals a huge step forward in the global transition to
cleaner forms of flight. This achievement, and the records we hope
will follow, shows the UK remains right at the forefront of
aerospace innovation. By backing projects like this one, the Government
is helping to drive forward the boundary pushing technologies that
will leverage investment and unlock the cleaner, greener aircraft
required to end our contribution to climate change.”
The ACCEL programme, short for ‘Accelerating
the Electrification of Flight’ includes key partners YASA, the
electric motor and controller manufacturer, and aviation start-up Electroflight.
Half of the project’s funding is provided by the
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Innovate
UK.
“The first flight of the Spirit of Innovation
demonstrates how innovative technology can provide solutions to
some of the world’s biggest challenges,” said Gary Elliott, CEO,
Aerospace Technology Institute. “The ATI is funding projects like
ACCEL to help UK develop new capabilities and secure a lead in the
technologies that will decarbonise aviation. We congratulate
everyone who has worked on the ACCEL project to make the first
flight a reality and look forward to the world speed record
attempt which will capture the imagination of the public in the
year that the UK hosts COP26.”
VIDEO
See latest
Travel Industry News ,
Video
Interviews ,
Podcasts
and other
news regarding:
Rolls-Royce ,
Electric ,
Hydrogen .
Headlines:
IHG Partners MMS Land for First Vignette Collection Hotel in Indonesia
Pegasus Airlines Takes Delivery of 100th Aircraft
Conrad Singapore Orchard Starts Accepting Reservations
Amadeus Upgrades PSS for Vietnam's Bamboo Airways
LATAM Airlines Takes Delivery of First A321neo; Orders 13 More
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Signs Distribution Agreement with Sabre Hospitality
BCD Reveals Latest Trends in Sustainable Business Travel
SF Airlines Signs Bilateral Interline Agreement with Teleport
FCM Meetings & Events Unveils Expansion Plans; Appoints Simone Seiler as Global GM
Louis Theroux Confirmed as Keynote Speaker at World Travel Market London 2023
Dusit Opens 11th Luxury Hotel in China
Airbus and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to Trial eSAILs on Ville de Bordeaux
Hotels in France Leading Global RevPAR Growth
Honeywell Licenses GAMECO for Third-Party Airline Component Repairs
United Airlines Launches U.S. Military Pilot Program
Sabre Launches AI-Powered Retailing Solution for Airlines
IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Jaipur and Agra
Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Improve Handling Processes with AI
Changi Completes T2 Engineering and Expansion Work
Rolls-Royce Completes First Fuel Burn on New Engine Designed for Hybrid-Electric Flight
Xiamen Airlines Appoints APG as Offline GSA in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Hong Kong Airport Reports August's Cargo and Passenger Numbers
Marriott Signs Two Luxury Hotels in Trojena, Saudi Arabia
Honeywell Expands Partnership with Asia Pacific Aircraft Component Services
American Airlines Signs MOU with Embraer to Join Energia Advisory Group
Scoot Signs E190-E2 Pool Program Services Agreement with Embraer
Air Canada Orders 18 Boeing 787-10s; Cancels Order for Two 777 Freighters
Alton Aviation Publishes 2023 - 2033 Global MRO Demand Forecast
Airbus Appoints Christian Scherer as Commercial Aircraft CEO
Amadeus Working with Accenture and Microsoft on New AI-Powered Travel Assistant
IndiGo Launches Fights Between Delhi and Almaty, Kazakhstan
Widerøe Appoints APG as Online GSA in United Kingdom
CapitaLand Ascott Trust Completes Sale of Four Serviced Residences in France
Air Astana Receives Five-Star Rating from APEX
United Airlines Appoints Michael Leskinen as CFO and EVP
Rosewood to Rebrand Three Lodges in New Zealand
New Dual-Branded Hotel in Kuala Lumpur Appoints Senior Management Team
Bonza to Launch Sunshine Coast - Darwin, Gold Coast - Darwin and Melbourne - Alice Springs
IHG Opens First avid Hotel in New York, USA
Austria to Order Embraer C-390 Millennium Multi-Mission Aircraft
Maldivian Orders Two ATR 42-600 Turboprop Aircraft
IndiGo Adds San Francisco to Codeshare Partnership with Turkish Airlines
Virgin Australia Upgrades Retailing Strategy with Sabre Air Price and Ancillary Solutions
TUI Expands Use of SITA OptiClimb to All Five Airlines in Group
Marshall J Orton Joins Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford as GM of F&B
China Airlines Launches Flights Between Taipei and Kumamoto, Japan
IATA FEGA Identifies Potential for LOT Polish Airlines to Reduce Fuel Consumption
British Airways Joins Fight Against Dementia by Partnering Alzheimer's Society
Hong Kong Int. Aviation Academy Launches First Cadet Pilot Programme
IndiGo Becomes Official Airline of Blue Tigers Indian Football Team
Marriott Opens World's Largest Aloft Hotel
Resort in Maldives Partners Karis Scarlette for Baa Atoll Ballet Retreat
Shady Abdelaziz Joins Four Seasons Hotel Tunis as DOSM
Intra-African Passenger Traffic to More Than Quadruple in Next 20 Years
Indian Air Force Takes Delivery of First C295 Aircraft from Airbus
Tailwind Air Appoints APG as Online GSA in USA
S Hotels Renovates and Upgrades IT Infrastructure at Key Properties in UK
AirAsia to Move Flights to New Airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Air Peace Orders Five Embraer E175 Aircraft
China Airlines Rewards FFP Members with Monthly Promotions
IHG Opens New-Build Holiday Inn & Suites in Geelong, Australia
Aruba Working with SITA to Upgrade Immigration Experience at AUA
Langham Opens Cordis Hotel in Xuzhou, China
SMBC Aviation Capital Expands 737 MAX Order Pipeline with Deal for 25 Boeing 737-8s
PHI Signs Agreement for 28 Airbus Helicopters
Anantara Chiang Mai Launches Ping River Cruises on Restored Rice Barge
Thaicom Orders a Flexible Telecommunications Satellite from Airbus
Korean Air Begins Transition to Electronic Air Waybills for Cargo
Tim Toerber Joins Assaia as Vice President of Business Development for the Americas
Elbit Systems Launches Capsule that Combines Skylark III with SkyStriker
Singapore Airlines to Resume Flights to Brussels in 2024
Vietnam Airlines Signs MOU for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s
Thai Airways Adjusts BKK-HKT Schedule; Increases Flights to China
Elbit Systems to Upgrade IDF's Mini Skylarks
DidaTravel Appoints Ala Andriuta as Head of Destination Marketing
Cathay Pacific to Resume Flights to Chennai, India in 2024
Qatar Airways Partners Chef Ton for Delicious Thai Flavours in Business Class
Air Astana Opens Flight Training Centre at NQZ, Kazakhstan
Vietnam Airlines to Launch Flights Between Saigon and Perth, Australia
SalamAir to Launch Year-Round Flights Between Muscat and Beirut, Lebanon
Air Astana Launches Flights Between Almaty and Tel Aviv, Israel
Hawaiian Airlines Opens Ticket Sales on First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flights
Airlines Report Highest RPK and PLF on Record
IHG Signs Six Hotel Indigo Properties in Europe
Turkish Airlines Increases A350 Order Book with Deal for Ten -900s
IATA Reports Global Air Cargo Data for July 2023
Norse Opens Ticket Sales on Paris - Los Angeles Flights
Cartier Opens Boutique at Sydney Airport in Australia
Mazen Abilmona Appointed GM of Pullman Singapore Hill Street Hotel
Air France-KLM to Establish A350 Component Maintenance Services JV with Airbus
Alan Joyce Brings Forward Retirement; Vanessa Hudson Appointed Qantas Group CEO and MD
SAS Appoints Ginger Hughes as CTO; Paul Verhagen as CCO
Eric Pellen Joins Fairmont Amman as Executive Chef
Bombardier Partners Collins Aerospace for Avionics Upgrade on In-Service Global Jets
IndiGo Revamps Inflight Catering Service
FlyArystan to Launch Almaty - Delhi and Astana - Dushanbe Flights
Marriott Opens First Autograph Collection Hotel in Thailand
Construction Begins on Peppers Gladstone Hotel in Central Queensland, Australia
Natalie Dau to Conduct 4-Day Next-Level Performance Retreat at Chiva-Som, Hua Hin
KAI to Begin Serial Production of Light Armed Helicopters from Airbus
AirAsia Thailand Launches CNX - Lampang and NAN - Phrae Transfer Services
Mantra Melbourne Airport Hotel to Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Refurbishment
Qantas Removes Expiry Date on COVID Credits
Indonesia Signs MOU with Boeing for 24 F-15EX Fighter Jets
Airbus Opens Automated A321XLR Equipping Hangar in Hamburg, Germany
Novotel Living and Ibis Almaty Jetisu Hotels in Kazakhstan - Interview with GM, Arseniy Tagaev
Aeroflot to Increase Flights from Russia to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand
Matthew Senyard Appointed Lodge Manager of Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in Tanzania
Marriott Expands Luxury Collection to Japanese City of Nara
Embraer and CAE to Expand Pilot Training Program in Singapore
Marriott Opens First Moxy Hotel in Australia
Hong Kong Airport Reports July Passenger and Cargo Traffic
Few Tickets Still Available for Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2023
Qantas Orders 12 Airbus and 12 Boeing Aircraft
Finnair to Launch Flights Between Rovaniemi and Tromsø
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Reports July's Passenger and Cargo Traffic
Bonza to Launch Flights Between Gold Coast and Launceston, Tasmania
Ramsey Saarany Appointed GM of Anantara Mina al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort
Emirates Reports One of its Busiest Summers Ever
EVA Air Extends Distribution Agreement with Amadeus
Almaty Marathon 2023 - 4K Video Interview with CEO, Saltanat Kazybayeva
Accor Hotels in Australia to Feature Peloton Bikes
Sabre Expands Presence in Fiji and South Pacific Islands with Airline Rep Services
Air New Zealand Orders Two ATR 72-600 Turboprop Aircraft
IndiGo to Operate All International Flights from BLR's Terminal 2
Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan - Video Interview with Co-Founder
Elias Pertoft Appointed Pre-Opening GM of Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
IHG Opens Third Hotel Indigo in Australia
Embraer E195-E2 Receives Type Certification from CAAC
Jörg Arnold Appointed Cluster Director of Andermatt Hotels and GM of The Chedi Andermatt
Marriott Signs Edition Hotel in Dali, China
Ethiopian Airlines to Launch Thrice Weekly Flights to London Gatwick, England
Boeing Appoints Alvin Liu as President - China
Charles Fisher Moves to Cairo as GM of Four Seasons Hotel
Jirarat Ninpadub Appointed GM of Le Meridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort
IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Delhi and Almaty, Kazakhstan
Accor Signs Second Sebel Hotel in Wellington, New Zealand
IHG Launches Garner a New Midscale Conversion Brand
Finnair Plus to Adopt Avios as Currency and Become a Spend-Based Platform
Two Luxurious Manor Homes Open at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland
Thai AirAsia Reports Q2 and H1 2023 Results
Klook Survey Highlights Latest Travel Trends of Millennials and Gen Zs in Asia Pacific
Vietnam Airlines Signs MOC with Singapore Tourism Board
Aviation Safety and Training Singapore to Upgrade Flight Simulators with Lido FMS
Pictures from Miss International Queen 2023 Transgender Beauty Pageant in Pattaya, Thailand
Exclusive Video Interviews with 17 Miss International Queen 2023 Contestants
Living With One Eye - Six Years On by Steven Howard
HD Videos and Interviews
Podcasts from HD Video Interviews
RSS Feed - Travel Industry News
Ticker - Travel Industry News
Travel Industry News Archives
Travel Trade Shows
High-Res Picture Galleries
Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News