In 2025, after certification from the FAA, they can be seen in the sky, including on the courier service at UPC.
Vermont-based Beta Technologies has submitted two of its electric aircraft, the Alia-250 and CX300, for mandatory certification, writes the Electrek portal. After certification according to the standards of the US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), the company plans to launch electric aircraft in a series in 2025. Both aircraft covered more than 35,000 km during testing and are fully ready for testing.
They already have orders from three customers: Air New Zealand, logistics services provider UPS and Blade Urban Air Mobility, which specializes in providing helicopter taxi services.
The CX300 electric plane is a modern classic
It is a fixed wing model with conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) that can carry 5 passengers and one pilot up to 620 km. The aircraft shares a similar design with other company products such as the Alia-250 vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), which is designed for urban mobility. By the way, he also went for certification.
The CX300 can be used for a variety of applications, from carrying passengers and cargo to medical evacuations.
Photo: Beta Technologies
The CX300 runs on electrical energy stored in lithium-ion batteries installed in the body and wings of the aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with two propellers at the ends of the wings, which provide thrust and flight control. The device also has a regenerative braking system, which allows you to restore some of the energy during landing.
The device can be used for a variety of purposes, from transporting passengers and cargo to medical evacuations and delivering organs for transplants. Beta Technologies is also developing the infrastructure to charge its aircraft: dedicated vertical-rod charging stations that can connect batteries to the grid or renewable energy sources.
Electric aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing Alia-250
The second “brother” of the company, which is undergoing certification – eVTOL Alia-250. This is an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, which was introduced in June 2020 and will be available in two versions: for passengers and for cargo. The Alia-250 engineers were inspired by the Arctic tern, the furthest bird on earth.
Alia-250 engineers were inspired by the arctic tern
Photo: Beta Technologies
This eVTOL has four horizontally mounted rotors and one rear propeller for level flight. This is called the Lift+Cruise concept. It runs on a distributed direct drive electrical system and is powered by battery packs. The main feature of the model is fast charging. In just 50 min. you can charge the electric plane and fly again. The flight range until the next recharge is 402 km, and the carrying capacity is up to 3 tons.
CX300 and Alia-250 are the future of local air travel, experts say
Photo: Beta Technologies
How much are Alia-250 and CX300
The exact price for these models is unknown, but there is evidence that its buyer Alia-250 will cost $4 million. However, the manufacturing company is ready to negotiate discounts when buying several aircraft at the same time. Courier service UPS, one of Alia-250’s customers, did not disclose the price of its contract with Beta Technologies.
If we talk about the CX300, then its cost is unknown even approximately, because this eCTOL has just passed the test tests. But its price must certainly be much more, because the CX300 has a greater carrying capacity and is able to overcome a longer distance without recharging (up to 621 km).
Alia-250 and CX300 are built on the same platform, but they have different goals
Photo: Beta Technologies
Experts who have had a closer look at the two models note that the CX300 and Alia-250 are examples of how electric aviation can change the future of transportation. And the very near future.
Earlier Focus wrote that the new VTOL X-Plane will fly at a speed of 740 km / h: why does the military need it.
