All-composite Airbus E-Fan aircraft prepares for cross-Channel flight

This will mark the first electric-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel.

Airbus Group’s all-electric E-Fan technology demonstrator aircraft is being readied for its Channel crossing this Friday, July 10. The aircraft will soon be on its way from France’s Aquitaine region to the starting point of its Channel crossing in Lydd, England for the 38 minute journey.

Transported on a truck and shipped by a ferry from the French to the English side of the Channel, the E-Fan will perform first test flights on Thursday, July 9 in Lydd. The historic flight over the Channel follows the footsteps of Louis Blériot’s first Channel crossing 106 years ago.

The French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC), Airbus Group and its partners have elaborated a dedicated test and verification program to assure the safety for the Channel flight of the E-Fan technology demonstrator.

READ MORE : http://www.compositesworld.com/news/all-composite-airbus-e-fan-aircraft-prepares-for-cross-channel-flight-