Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — A California company has conducted a test flight of a hybrid-electric airplane capable of carrying six people.
A pilot and flight engineer flew Ampaire Inc.'s modified Cessna 337 Skymaster over Camarillo Airport on Thursday.
The aircraft normally has two combustion engines, one in front and another at the rear, that turn propellers in a push-pull configuration.
Ampaire has replaced one engine with a battery-powered electric motor.
The company says the result is savings on greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.
Ampaire aims to supply aircraft to short-haul regional airlines.
It plans to test a pre-production prototype this year on a Maui in partnership with Mokulele Airlines and hopes to achieve commercial operations in 2021.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
