George Bye To Speak Nov. 17 At IDTechEx Show In Santa Clara, California

Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. (AEAC), the developer of the solar-electric “Sun Flyer” flight trainer, announced that power-on tests on the prototype Sun Flyer began in October.

“We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone,” said George Bye, CEO of AEAC. “The rigorous process of ground testing has commenced.”

The prototype Sun Flyer has completed a preliminary review and inspection, and has also received its temporary registration from the FAA. Following recent completion of operational test readiness reviews with the engineering team, the airplane is to begin the next stage of tests including ground, taxi and pre-flight tests. The 2-seat aircraft was unveiled to the public in mid-May and was displayed during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 in late July.

Charlie Johnson, AEAC President and the former President of Cessna, is a strong proponent of electric propulsion for general aviation. “We have been preparing for the power-on tests for months, taking extraordinary precautions to develop comprehensive checklists and safety protocols,” he said.

Sun Flyer is intended to be the first FAA-certified, U.S.-sponsored, practical, all-electric airplane to serve the flight training and general aviation markets. It features a low operating cost, low aircraft unit cost, low noise and the elimination of exhaust pollutants. Electric energy, or “fuel,” cost for Sun Flyer is multiples lower compared to the per-hour cost for piston-engine leaded avgas.

Bye will present and update the Sun Flyer program on Thursday, Nov. 17, as part of the IDTechEx Show in Santa Clara, CA. He will speak at 9:45 a.m. local time in the Great America Ballroom Track 8.

(Source: Bye Aerospace news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.sunflyer.com, www.idtechex.com/usa2016/show/en