23 April 2021
Bye Aerospace, developer of the electric two-seat eFlyer, has announced an eight-seat all-electric twin turboprop class aircraft, the eFlyer 800, powered by Safran units.
Bye says the design is in response to growing demands for regional all-electric mini-airliners with significantly reduced operating costs. Clearly, it’s also aimed at the utility market currently served by Beechcraft’s King Air series.
Performance estimates for the eFlyer 800 include up to 320kt cruise speed, 35,000ft ceiling and 500nm range with 45-minute IFR reserves at normal cruise speed of 280 knots.
Safety features include two wing-mounted electric motors, each with dual redundant motor windings, quad-redundant battery packs and a full aircraft parachute.
Additional potential features include emergency auto-landing system, envelope protection, terrain avoidance and an an option for supplemental power solar cells and in-wheel electric taxi.
Bye claims the eFlyer 800 will have one-fifth the operating costs of traditional twin turboprops and is geared for the air-taxi, air-cargo, regional and charter aircraft markets.
George E. Bye, Bye Aerospace CEO, said, “The eFlyer 800 is the first all-electric propulsion technology airplane that achieves twin-turboprop performance and safety with no CO2 and extremely low operating costs.
“This type of remarkable economy and performance is made possible by the electric propulsion system and advanced battery cell technology that results in significantly higher energy densities.”
Bye eFlyer 800 will have two Safran electric propulsion units. Images: Bye Aerospace
Bye Aerospace and Safran are currently assessing the most efficient electric powertrain for the eFlyer 800 such as dual ENGINeUS electric motors and GENeUSGRID¢ electric distribution and network protection system.
“Safran product lines with the ENGINeUS motors, rated from 50kW to 500kW/1MW and GENeUSGRID systems, perfectly fit with the Bye Aerospace portfolio of e-aircraft,” said Herve Blanc, Executive Vice President and General Manager Power with Safran Electrical & Power.
“Building upon our successful cooperation on eFlyer2 and eFlyer4, we are very proud to bring our best expertise to support Bye Aerospace in the design of the new eFlyer 800.”
Bye said eFlyer 800 customer deposit agreements are complete, and several are being developed with U.S. and European air-taxi, air-cargo and air charter services.
Bye Aerospace is in the process of obtaining FAA Part-23 certification for the eFlyer 2 for professional flight training and the four-seat eFlyer 4 for air taxi, cargo and advanced training uses.
