The US state of Florida witnessed a test flight this June that could mark a turning point in the development of electric aviation.
The US Helios Horizon project announced a series of test flights of an electric aircraft equipped with solid-state batteries, a move that could represent a significant turning point in the future of electric aviation.
Veteran pilot Miguel Iturmendi led the test flights aboard the Helios Horizon aircraft, which was equipped with a new solid-state battery system. Although the flights were short and focused primarily on testing the aircraft's stability and performance after the battery installation, they represent the first known instance of this technology being used in a conventional fixed-wing manned aircraft.
The main challenges facing electric aviation lie in the limited availability of energy sources, not in the electric propulsion systems themselves. Most current experimental electric aircraft rely on conventional lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes, which are suitable for electric vehicles but do not provide sufficient energy density for long-range flight applications.
Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, use solid materials instead of liquids to transfer the electrical charge, which gives them several advantages, most notably increased safety levels, reduced risks of overheating or ignition, in addition to the ability to store larger amounts of energy within the same weight.
This factor is of exceptional importance in the aviation sector, as every additional kilogram directly affects the efficiency of the aircraft and its flight range.
Before adopting the new technology, Helios Horizon batteries provided an energy density of approximately 260 Wh per kilogram. After switching to solid-state batteries, this figure increased to 410 Wh per kilogram, an increase of nearly 60%.
Etormindi noted that battery performance could improve by an additional 40% over the next two years as technology continues to develop.
The project also stands out for its focus on maximizing the use of available energy. In addition to the ability to charge the batteries from the conventional electrical grid and recover approximately 80% of their capacity in less than 15 minutes via fast charging, the aircraft is equipped with solar panels mounted on its wings.
The aircraft also employs an energy recovery system during gliding and landing, where the propeller rotates due to airflow, similar to wind turbines, allowing some of the energy to be returned to the batteries.
Etormindi said that in-flight energy recovery technology could significantly contribute to increasing the aircraft's range and improving its operational efficiency.
The project is based on a Pipistrel Taurus powered glider that has undergone extensive modifications including the addition of an advanced battery management system, a new electric propulsion unit, a thermal control system, as well as solar panels.
The aircraft has already set a world record for altitude in its class of electric aircraft, after reaching a height of 7,315 meters.
The development team is currently working on a new flight targeting an altitude of 12,192 meters, a level approaching the operational altitudes of commercial aircraft. This new record attempt is scheduled to take place before the end of this year.
