Solar Impulse Spin Off — H55 logo.
Dec. 3, 2020
An electric plane developed in Valais by H55 will be available to aviation schools from 2022.
Image above: The two-seater electric aircraft is equipped with an electric propulsion system.
Thanks to a fundraising of 20 million francs, the spin-off H55 will continue to develop a two-seater electric aircraft in Valais. It will be available to aviation schools from 2022.
The 20 million francs will be used, among other things, to finalize the certification of the electric propulsion system, a system made up of an engine and batteries. They will also make it possible to go from around thirty engineers, revolving around the project, to "around fifty by 2022," André Borschberg, former CEO and pilot of Solar Impulse, and co-founder and president of H55 told Keystone-ATS.
"Essential element"
This certification is “an essential element to be able to fly. In particular, it shows that the technology is safe and reliable, ”continues André Borschberg. It is expected for 2022, or in less than 18 months.
Once the sesame is in its pocket, the aircraft, intended for pilot training, will be made available to aviation schools. Compared to the presentation of the project and the aircraft in a hangar at Sion airport in June 2019, the project is six months behind schedule. This is because of the addition of an "important element in the motor controller," says the co-founder and president of H55.
Cantonal subsidy
Of the 20 million francs raised, fifteen come from a capital increase subscribed by the shareholders of the company and by new investors based in Switzerland and in Silicon Valley. The remaining five million is a subsidy from the State of Valais.
In 2018, a first fundraising of five million francs allowed H55 to develop the electric propulsion system and to fly the plane for the first time in June 2019 in the Valais skies. Since then, the aircraft manufactured by the Czech company BRM Aero and equipped with the system developed by H55 has carried out "dozens of flights" in particular to measure its performance.
Solar Impulse spin-off
H55, a Solar Impulse spin-off, develops electric motors, batteries, management and control systems and interfaces with the pilot. It is based on three sites in Sion, including one at the airport.
Solar Impulse Spin Off — H55
The H55 aircraft is a springboard for developing new solutions in air transport. The analysis of its flights and its performance makes it possible to collect data essential to the development over the next five to ten years of transport aircraft with four to six seats and VTOLs (vertical take-off and landing aircraft used for example to move from one point to another in a large city).
Related articles:
A two-seater electric plane unveiled in Sion, Switzerland
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2019/06/a-two-seater-electric-plane-unveiled-in.html
A new electric plane will soon be launched in Switzerland
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2019/06/a-new-electric-plane-will-soon-be.html
Related link:
Solar Impulse Spin Off — H55: https://www.h55.ch/solar-impulse-spin-off
Image, Video, Text, Credits: Keystone-ATS/24 heures/H55/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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