June: A record-breaking month with 175 Solar-powered flights at E-Flight Academy
Teuge, July 1, 2024 – E-Flight Academy, a pioneering Dutch flight school located at Teuge Airport near Apeldoorn, has achieved a remarkable milestone in sustainable aviation. Established in 2021, the academy has been committed to training pilots using fully electric aircraft. This June, E-Flight Academy set a new record, completing 175 flights powered entirely by solar energy.
E-Flight Academy has the world's largest electric fleet, with four Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft, each capable of flying for about 50 minutes. The academy's innovative approach is boosted by over 500 solar panels and extensive battery storage, enabling the aircraft to fly on self-generated electricity.
From the very beginning, E-Flight Academy has been a pioneer in sustainable aviation. By using electric aircraft, CO2 emissions and noise pollution are significantly reduced, positively impacting the environment and the community. The addition of solar panels and battery storage further strengthens these sustainability goals, making the entire concept complete.
The technology behind flying on te sun
- 504 solar panels with a capacity of 405 Wp each, totaling 204.1 kWp
- Annual yield of 200,000 kWh
- 10 charging stations landside: Eaton Green Motion Home
- 4 charging stations airside: Eaton Green Motion DC 44
- Battery storage with Eaton X-Storage lithium batteries (NMC technology: Lithium, Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt Oxide), totaling 500 kWh (50x 10 kWh each)
- Involved parties: Maxem Energy Solutions B.V., Eaton Green Motion, NRG2fly, Hedgehog Applications, 12MNDN Duurzaam
Record-Breaking June for Solar-Powered Flights
June was a landmark month for E-Flight Academy, with 175 solar-powered flights. The academy logged 120 flight hours, consuming 2640 kWh of solar energy for flying. On top of that, the solar panels generated 6000 kWh, which was fed back to the grid. This surplus production demonstrates the feasibility and potential of solar-powered aviation.
"We are thrilled to announce that June was our most successful month yet, with 175 flights powered entirely by solar energy. This achievement demonstrates the incredible potential of sustainable aviation, and we are excited about the future possibilities,"
Matthijs Collard, co-founder of E-Flight Academy
Electric flying today:
- The Pipistrel Velis Electro has been the only certified electric aircraft in the world since 2020.
- This two-seater aircraft can fly for an hour, including a 10-minute reserve.
- The charging time with a regular charger is about the same as the flight time.
- With a fast charger, charging takes about 25 minutes.
- The aircraft has an empty weight of 425 kg and a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kg.
- The two passengers can have a combined weight of up to 175 kg. If the instructor weighs 75 kg, the student pilot can weigh up to 100 kg.
- A typical flight lesson lasts about 45 minutes, which is perfect for electric flying.
- When flying to another airport, a 30-minute reserve must be maintained, reducing the flight time to 30 minutes.
- Pilots trained electrically receive a license that allows them to fly conventional aircraft and eventually become commercial pilots.
E-Flight Academy is located at Teuge Airport in E-Deck, the hangar of the future, which also serves as a sustainable event location. The academy is the first sustainable flight school in the world and offers a wide range of training opportunities for future recreational and commercial pilots. Among others, KLM Flight Academy and the Ministry of Defense train at E-Flight Academy. The fully electric fleet and the use of solar energy make the flight school unique and leading in the aviation sector worldwide.
E-Flight Academy
Website: www.eflight.nl
Press contact: merlijn@eflight.nl
Phone: +31615896506
📸 Menno van Luijn
-----
European Regional Development Fund
The shared facility E-Deck is an innovative ecosystem that facilitates R&D and development within electric aircraft technology and electrification of airport infrastructure and ground-based activities. E-Deck is a physical shared location where knowledge, expertise, and ambition come together around e-aviation. It involves SMEs in collaboration with knowledge and educational institutions. Besides accelerating the transition to electric flying, Teuge Airport also becomes an attractive location for companies active in developing electric transportation modalities. E-Deck is being realized with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund by 31-12-2023. Co-financed as part of the Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
