FutureFlight
Ampaire Achieves Longest Flight Yet With Electric EEL Technology Demonstrator
The hybrid-electric Cessna 337 flew almost 350 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco
Ampaire Electric EEL
On October 8, Ampaire flew its hybrid-electric version of a Cessna 337 Skymaster from Los Angeles to the San Francisco bay area. (Photo: Ampaire)

Electric propulsion systems developer Ampaire last week achieved its longest flight with the Cessna 337 Skymaster that it has converted to hybrid-electric power. On October 8, the six-seat, Electric EEL aircraft took off from the Los Angeles area Camarillo Airport and made a 341-mile flight to Hayward Executive Airport in the San Francisco area in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Ampaire, claims this was the longest flight to date for what it defines as a "commercially relevant" aircraft using electric propulsion. 

The Electric EEL is powered by a 310-hp Continental IO-550 engine installed in the tail of the aircraft and an electric motor in the nose. In an announcement issued on October 12, Ampaire did not provide a breakdown of how these two power sources were employed at various stages of the flight.