The e-Beaver has landed.
A B.C.-based airline successfully completed its first electric seaplane point-to-point flight Thursday with a test trip across Georgia Strait from Richmond to North Saanich.
Harbour Air鈥檚 historic De Havilland Beaver, retrofitted in 2019 to operate using 100 per cent electricity, flew 45 miles and landed with ample reserve power, according to a company statement.
Harbour Air plans to become the world鈥檚 first emissions-free passenger airline and is working with the Redmond, Wash.-based company MagniX to pilot the new electric aircraft technology.
Kory Paul, vice president of flight operations and one of the company鈥檚 test pilots, said the 24-minute test run further proves the safety and reliability of the craft.
鈥淚 am excited to report that this historic flight on the e-plane went exactly as planned,鈥 he said.
The e-Beaver remains in the region to support Harbour Air鈥檚 partnership with the BC Aviation Museum, appearing during the North Saanich museum鈥檚 open house Aug. 20 before returning back to Harbour Air鈥檚 Aerospace Maintenance Facility at Vancouver International Airport.
READ ALSO:
Do you have a story tip? Email: c.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca.
Follow us on and and like us on