Germany To Romania Flight Took 7 Legs, Longest 185 Miles

Elektra Solar GmbH, a solar-powered aircraft developer based in Landsberg, Germany, announced that its Elektra Solar Trainer aircraft successfully completed a 900-mile (1,500 km) trip from southwestern Germany through Austria and Hungary, terminating in Brasov, Romania.

The trip, originating at the Donaueschingen-Villingen Airport (IATA: ZQL, ICAO: EDTD) was flown in seven legs, the longest of which was a little over 185 miles (300 km). The purpose was to demonstrate the reliability of existing integrated solar-rechargeable battery-powered aircraft and showcase its utility as a practical solution for cross-country travel.

The trip was flown by Elektra’s test pilot, Uwe Nortman, and the legs consisted of Nuremberg, Passau in Germany; Vienna, Austria; Gyor and Szeged, Hungary, finally Deva and terminating in Brasov, Romania.

The demonstration flight was an initiative supporting the 5th edition of the Smart Airport Cities conference held in Brasov on May 15.

Elektra Solar was founded in 2011 by Calin Gologan, a Romanian-born aerospace engineer who developed the Elektra line of aircraft. The Elektra One first flew in 2011 and that same year won the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft Vision at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.

The Elektra Two model is larger than the Elektra One, and in 2019 the Elektra Two Solar variant flew completely autonomously from start to landing, and achieved an altitude of nearly 33,000 feet (10 km).

The Elektra One Trainer is a modified Elektra One Solar, with an incorporated charging system as well as a dual-redundant propulsion system consisting of two motors, motor controllers, and batteries.

FMI:  www.elektra-solar.com/