All-Electric, Battery-Powered Aircraft Lands at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport
Beta Technologies, out of Burlington, Vermont, has completed a successful landing of an all-electric, battery-powered aircraft at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, as part of a longer trip down the east coast. The flight lasted 49 minutes and the airplane flew a total of 84 miles according to Beta Technologies public affairs team member Will Guisbond.
This is a step towards solving the problem of the aviation industry creating 3 to 9% of all emissions, and becoming more sustainable. Beta’s systems include an all-electric aircraft, charging infrastructure, and training programs for pilots and support staff.
Beta Technologies was incorporated in 2017 by Kyle Clark – an experienced pilot, engineer and entrepreneur. Clark became the company’s first test pilot, learning to fly in helicopters and earning his FAA qualifications for a powered lift rating. In the past three years, Beta’s aircraft has flown over 26,000 miles, completing over three years of piloted flights towards achieving FAA certification.
Beta’s first customer was United Therapeutics led by CEO Martine Rothblatt, who awarded Beta a $48-million dollar contract. United Therapeutics was looking for efficient transportation methods for organs intended for human transplant. UPS was another early customer; they ordered 10 aircraft in 2021, and reserved the right to order another 140.
Beta’s electric motors are quieter and have a smaller carbon footprint, with zero operational emissions compared to an equivalent gasoline engine. This type of aircraft also requires less maintenance, and the motors are run from lithium-ion batteries. Beta Technologies is expected to have the capability to produce up to 300 aircraft per year by 2027.
Beta Technologies built their factory on a 40-acre site in South Burlington, Vermont. The production facility was designed to be sustainable, which is an important aspect of Beta’s mission to decarbonize the aviation sector. It is equipped with 260 geothermal wells to provide energy and temperature control, and there are also nearly three acres of roof-mounted solar panels.
The 188,500-square-foot electric aircraft factory is expected to create hundreds of jobs as Beta ramps up production. These aircrafts will be used across the cargo, medical, defense and passenger industries.
This multi-leg flight will have traveled from Burlington, Vermont, to Duke Field Air Force Base in Florida to deliver the aircraft to a Beta Technologies customer. For more information, please visit https:www.beta.team