Bristell B23 Energic Crosses 100 Orders to End the Eight-State Demonstration

After four months, eight states, 25 airports, and nearly 200 passenger flights, H55’s “Across America” tour has come to a close. During the fun, the all-electric Bristell B23 Energic secured its hundredth order and got multiple major fleet agreements rolling.

Solar Impulse-inspired developer H55 began its journey in April at this year’s SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. It then traveled to Arizona and Alabama in May, Nevada and California and June, Colorado and Wisconsin in July (yes, for AirVenture), and New York to complete the tour in August.

Along the way, the B23 Energic underwent a series of noise, high altitude, and high temperature demonstrations to prove the adaptability of its electric propulsion technology. Taking place at an airport that reports a field elevation of nearly 6,000 feet MSL and in temperatures as high as 97 degrees, the Energic was forced to show out with a takeoff density altitude of 9,500 feet. Its ability to get off the ground and maintain a 500-foot-per-minute climb helps soothe a major public concern regarding electric aircraft performance in ‘hot and high’ locations.

Bristell’s B23 aircraft has already received the EASA green light and has ticked all the boxes for US certification under FAR Part 23. The standard version is a two-seat, all-metal bird flying with a Rotax 912 or 915iSc engine, earning cruise speeds over 110 knots. The H55 version, dubbed the Energic, utilizes a single electric motor with 48 kWh of usable energy. It has around a one-to-one hour ratio in the air to on the charger, making it a capable contender for flight training and other GA operations.

To recap “Across America,” the Energic visited 25 airports across eight states, logging 192 passenger flights without a single technical issue. It was found to be 10-15 dB quieter than most piston aircraft, plus cheaper to operate and stronger performance-wise in many cases.

“The advantages of electric aviation were immediately clear to every passenger—no noise, no vibration, no emissions, reduced maintenance, and minimal downtime—an unforgettable experience,” said H55 Co-Founder Andre Borschberg. “Our U.S. tour proved two things beyond doubt: electric aviation, and especially the B23, delivers exactly what flight schools are looking for—and it already exceeds the expectations of many private and professional pilots.”

FMI: https://h55.ch/en