AeroTEC, an American based aerospace engineering and testing company has announced at the Paris Airshow that they, in partnership with electric aircraft propulsion company MagniX that they plan to test and certify the 750hp MagniX magni500 motor on Cessna 208 Caravans.
MagniX says their website that the magni500 “is well-suited as a propulsion system for retrofitting existing “Middle-Mile” aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, King Air, Otter or DH-Beaver seaplane. It is also optimal for use in clean-sheet electric aircraft design.”
AeroTEC founder and president Lee Human told media outlets that “The electric aviation revolution is very real, and AeroTEC is the right team to help innovative aviation companies like MagniX bring their technology to the market sooner,”
The MagniX CEO Roei Ganzarski said, “Electrifying existing aircraft enables flexible, clean air-travel and package delivery options at a fraction of the cost. AeroTEC is responsible for the magni500-powered 208B’s modification design, integration and flight test.”
The announcement is one of many electric aircraft announcements that have come this year with Boeing announcing and testing their electric autonomous aircraft in January.
Testing for the Magni500 retrofitted Caravans is set to by the end of 2019. MagniX also announced earlier this year agreements with Canadian floatplane operator Harbour Air to convert their entire fleet to electric with the Magni500. Harbour Air’s 10 de Havilland Canada DHC_2 Beavers will be the first to see the retrofitting. The company expects the conversion of the Beavers to take around two years to complete. Harbour Air operates 30,000 flights per year in the Pacific Northwest and sees close to 500,000 passengers per year on their short routes.
“In 2018, 75% of worldwide airline flights were 1,000 miles or less in range. With magniX’s new propulsion systems coupled with emerging battery capabilities, we see tremendous potential for electric aviation,” said magniX CEO Roei Ganzarski when the company made the announcement.
