Aircraft
Beta Flies First Electric Airplane Produced in Vermont Factory
First production-representative Alia CX300 takes flight
Beta Alia CX300 (N916LF) is pictured in flight
Beta flew the first production example of the Alia CX300 electric airplane (registered N916LF) on November 13. © Beta Technologies

The first electric air taxi to roll off the production line at Beta Technologies’ factory in South Burlington, Vermont, completed its first test flight on Wednesday with company founder and CEO Kyle Clark at the helm.

After inspecting the production-representative Alia CX300 aircraft fresh off the factory floor last week, the FAA granted Beta a multipurpose special airworthiness certificate that allows the company to fly the aircraft not only for research and development but also for pilot training and “market survey” purposes, which includes public flight demonstrations and data collection missions.