Ampaire’s hybrid electric demonstrator completes 12-hour flight

Hybrid-electric aircraft systems company Ampaire Inc. demonstrated the endurance capabilities of its hybrid Electric EEL demonstrator aircraft through a flight on December 10, 2023, near Camarillo, California.

Ampaire officials believe the flight establishes a new record for hybrid electric aircraft endurance with a total flight time of 12 hours exactly with more than 2 hours of fuel and battery reserves remaining. The flight path covered 1,375 miles.

“Through this groundbreaking mission, Ampaire has shattered the conventional boundaries of electrified flight, underscoring our relentless pursuit of transformative vehicle performance and commercial utility,” said Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker.

The endurance flight concludes a year marked by successful missions spanning Canada, Alaska, Arizona, and California.

The EEL demonstrator aircraft has high-powered electronics, inverters, motors, and associated systems used in Ampaire's AMP-H570 AMP Drive hybrid electric propulsion unit currently flying in Ampaire’s Eco Caravan. It’s achieved 50% to 70% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to traditional turboprop engines.

Ampaire

Ampaire has scored a series of industry firsts since the 2019 maiden flight of its Electric EEL technology testbed aircraft, including the longest flight for a hybrid electric aircraft – 1,135 statute miles en route from Los Angeles to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the maiden flight of its hybrid electric Eco Caravan aircraft in 2022.