Cessna to develop electric-powered Skyhawk

Cessna has announced plans to design and develop an electric propulsion system for a Cessna C172 Skyhawk proof-of-concept (POC) aircraft.

Announcing the plans at Oshkosh AirVenture 2010 earlier this week, Cessna said it is collaborating with Bye Energy, Inc., an integrator of clean, alternative energy technologies for business and General Aviation aircraft, to design and develop the system.

“As we look at the landscape of alternative fuels for General Aviation aircraft, the electric power plant offers significant benefits, but there are significant challenges to get there,” Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton said. “We believe Bye Energy has gotten off to a good start in understanding those challenges and how to overcome them.”

Bye Energy Inc. CEO George Bye thanked Cessna for its collaboration on the project.

“We are honored to work with Cessna in accomplishing the proof of concept endeavor,” he said. “Cessna’s support of the electric and electric-hybrid program is vital to moving General Aviation into the future.”

The first flight of the electric-powered Cessna C172 Skyhawk POC aircraft is expected to take place by year’s end. And, given that the C172 is the most popular GA aircraft in history with more than 43,000 deliveries to date, we dare say it was the obvious choice for this exciting project.