Sion (Switzerland), June 21: Taking a big step towards developing flying taxis, H55, a Solar Impulse technological spin off, successfully flew a two-seater fully electric airplane on Friday. Self-flying Air Taxi Cora Launched in New Zealand by Google's Founder Larry Page's Kitty Hawk.

Powered by H55's electric propulsion system and manufactured by BRM Aero, the Bristell Energic airplane will be used for pilot training and flight schools, H55 said in a statement. The Bristell Energic offers a solution which is clean, quiet, cost efficient and safe, the company added.

The airplane has an endurance of 1.5 hours, providing 45-60 minutes of mission flight with enough reserves, a typical training programme for flight schools, H55 said, adding that this electric flight trainer airplane has received considerable interest from flight schools, airport resident associations and aviation authorities.

"Electric air transport will deeply transform and improve urban mobility," said Andre Borschberg, former CEO and Pilot of Solar Impulse, and now H55's Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. Experimental Plane Flies Silently, May Lead to Quiet Drones.

"Electric propulsion has enabled the world of drones, it will do the same for aviation. The Bristell Energic is a stepping stone for the development of such new aviation transport solutions, where the challenge will be safety and certification.

"By having our electric airplanes fly and monitoring their performance, H55 will continue to build up big data essential for the development of VTOLs (vertical take-off and landing aircraft) and flying taxis," Borschberg added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 22, 2019 11:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).