ZeroAvia has successfully completed its initial prototype ZA600 flight testing campaign following the 10th successful flight with a Dornier 228.
The flight, which took place at Cotswold Airport in the UK, was a cruise test to establish projections for future ranges using the system, with the next stages involving testing and demonstration of cross-country flights.
“Zero-emission flight technologies are moving from promise to delivery, and our amazing team is leading the way with this testing programme,” said Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia. “We do not have to push the unappealing choices on passengers of paying more or flying less to deliver climate-conscious air travel. We instead can adopt this technology quickly to reduce climate impact and air pollution.”
The testing process took place over the past six months, with the first test taking place back in January. The campaign involved ZeroAvia’s Dornier 228 aircraft flying at 5,000 feet, performing an endurance test at 23 minutes, operating in the wide temperature range from just above freezing to almost 30C, as well as reaching the maximum allowable speed under the Permit to Fly, issued by the CAA.
“ZeroAvia is making fantastic progress in pioneering zero-emission flight,” added Nusrat Ghani, UK Minister for Industry and Economic Security, “and I want to congratulate them on another important step completed with their first successful flight test campaign. I’m pleased that government support through the ATI Programme has helped ZeroAvia find innovative new ways to cut aviation emissions, which will help us deliver our Jet Zero Strategy and secure high-skilled green jobs in the UK.”
Image: ZeroAvia