Textron Inc. will accelerate the development of its electric fleet.
Last week, U.S. aviation company Textron Inc. announced that they would “accelerate” the development of an electric fleet by acquiring Pipistrel, a Slovenian Aircraft Manufacturer.
Textron bought the company that produces the world’s first electric-powered aircraft that is internationally certified as being safe for passenger flights. Pipistrel will be part of Textron’s new division that will focus on developing battery and fuel cell-powered aircraft.
The acquisition will help make Textron a more prominent player in sustainable aircraft. Textron CEO Scott Donnelly predicts that the merger will make his company “a world leader in sustainable aircraft for a wide range of missions.”—as reported by Scientific American.
The latest move in a growing global race is to develop electric planes. Meanwhile, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that 170 projects worldwide are working on developing electric-powered planes.
A report by NREL predicts that the market could see “strong growth starting in 2028,” when the first 50- to 70-seat electric aircraft are expected to appear.
Jesse Bennett, an engineer and lead author of the NREL report, said, “It’s exciting to see all the different approaches that are being pursued,” Projects range from small aircraft used to train new pilots and carry cargo to slightly larger planes that could ferry passengers from rural and small-town areas to major U.S. airports,” he said.
At least 5,050 smaller airports in the U.S. are perfect for electric planes. They can be used to quickly move passengers from smaller to larger airports across the U.S.
