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CALAIS, France (AP) — Airbus has flown its electric plane across the English Channel for the first time. The flight came hours after an independent French pilot made a similar voyage, beating the aeronautics giant.
It's a symbolically-important first step toward making electronic flight viable in the long term.
Several companies in different countries are developing electric planes, in hopes of offering a fuel-free flight alternative for the future.
Amid fanfare, European planemaker Airbus flew its E-fan plane from Lydd, England, to the French port of Calais (kal-AY') this morning. The plane operates exclusively on batteries. Since there's no oil or water, the 20-foot long, 1300-pound jet releases zero emissions.
About 12 hours before the Airbus flight, a French pilot (Hugues Duval) took his two-engine, one-seat plane from Calais to Dover and back. He says because he didn't have authorization to take off from Calais, a fuel-driven plane towed his aircraft at first. Then he flew on his own back to Calais.
Airbus officials who were gathered in Calais to celebrate the landing of their plane would not comment on the earlier flight.
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APPHOTO SPIN108: French pilot Didier Esteyne prepares to exit the cockpit after crossing the Channel with his European planemaker Airbus E-Fan prototyp, at the Calais Airport, northern France, Friday, July 10, 2015. Airbus flew its electric plane across the English Channel for the first time Friday, hours after a French pilot made a similar voyage in his electric plane — journeys seen as a symbolically important step toward making electronic flight viable in the long term. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) (10 Jul 2015)
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