Aero Electric Aircraft Corp.'s first all-electric Sun Flyer trainer has hit the assembly line. Arion Aircraft in Shelbyville, Tennessee, has been contracted to build the initial two-seat prototype, which will feature an Avidyne touchscreen avionics system.
"After extensive analysis of the options available for this critical phase of the development process, we have selected a company that offers a flexible, high-quality process for the assembly of this first two-seat prototype," said George Bye, CEO of AEAC.
AEAC plans to bring the first FAA-approved, all-electric aircraft to flight training markets — and soon.
"Our current schedule has initial R&D flight test operations beginning before year-end," Bye said.
As the Sun Flyer inches closer to entering the market, collaborations are in the works. AEAC and Redbird Flight Simulations are creating a comprehensive pilot training program, and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has signed on for a training program and reserved the first 20 aircraft.
The Sun Flyer is one of a small handful of electric airplanes due to hit the market soon. Pipistrel has launched the Alpha Electro two seater and Airbus subsidiary VoltAir is preparing to build the E-Fan plug-in electric and hybrid models.
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