Spirit of Innovation Aircraft Makes First Flight as It Prepares for World Speed Record Attempt
The single-seat light aircraft is powered by a 400-kW electric powertrain and a high-power-density battery pack that is expected to support speeds in excess of 300 mph.
Rolls-Royce’s Spirit of Innovation made its first flight on September 15 as it prepares for an attempt to set a new world speed record for an electric aircraft by exceeding 300 mph. The UK-based aero engines group is using the aircraft as a testbed for electric propulsion technology that it wants to apply for eVTOL vehicles and other advanced air mobility platforms.
The Spirit of Innovation team is operating from the UK Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down site in southern England. The first flight lasted 15 minutes after the aircraft took off just before 3 p.m. local time, and more flights are anticipated throughout September.
