Airbus Group’s all-electric E-Fan aircraft has been recognized by Popular Science magazine with the 2014 Best of What’s New Award in the aerospace category. The two-seat E-Fan is dedicated to pilot training.
“It is an enormous privilege for us to receive this award from Popular Science for the Best of What’s New Award,” said Jean Botti, Airbus Group Chief Technical Officer. ”The E-Fan is a significant step concerning our vision for the future of flight and we are committed to advance electric and hybrid propulsion technology. The E-Fan is a key milestone in Airbus Group’s long-term E-aircraft research roadmap.”
This award is the second public recognition the E-Fan received in 2014. In early August, the E-Fan received the Personal Aircraft Design Academy (PADA) award and trophy at the AirVenture Oshkosh. The PADA Trophy is awarded each year by the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation to the world’s best personal aircraft designers and engineers.
Although the project is relatively new, having been in existence only two years, the E-Fan demonstrator aircraft already has performed more than 60 test flights since March 2014, including successful demonstrations at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK before thousands of attendees, according to company officials.