Electric Planes Lifting Off at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

John Ivanko — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:25:01 +0000

First we had electric trains. Then electric cars. Now, airplanes.

Sonex, a national leader in providing affordable high performance kit aircraft, is developing a concept Waiex E-Flight Electric-Powered plane.

I caught up with Mark Schaible, Marketing Director for Sonex, at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture last year, the largest aircraft event on the planet. The EAA AirVenture is held in July and early August every year in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the Wittman Regional Airport.

“That’s our goal,” says Schaible, surrounded by the entire family of kit aircraft, including the Sonex Sport Trainer, Sonex Sport Acro and Xenos Sport Motorglider. “Keep ahead of the marketplace with an electric airplane. Someone is going to do it, so it might as well be us. We have made a lot of progress and are working very hard toward first flight [with our Waiex E-Flight Electric Powered aircraft].”

100% Electric Airplane Sets New World Speed Record

Jerry James Stone — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:26:21 +0000

On Wednesday, June 10, astronaut Maurizo Cheli set a world record while piloting the fully electric SkySpark. During an eight-minute flight at the World Air Games 2009 in Turin, Italy, he hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

That’s a record speed for a 100-percent electrically powered aircraft.

Green Options » electric airplanes

Electric Planes Lifting Off at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

First we had electric trains. Then electric cars. Now, airplanes.

100% Electric Airplane Sets New World Speed Record