Other renewables

Cri-Cri, the all-electric aircraft, flew for seven minutes

Battery-power just took a giant step into the sky. Airbus’ parent company EADS says its all-electric experimental aircraft has performed its maiden flight.

The all electric Cri-Cri, jointly developed by EADS Innovation Works, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association has made its official maiden flight at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Thursday.

This Cri-Cri is the first-ever four-engined allelectric aerobatic plane, which was first shown at the "Green Aviation Show" at Le Bourget in June.

The Cri-Cri, the first four-engine all-electric plane, is the latest effort to develop a battery-powered aircraft with performance comparable to light, piston-engine airplanes.

EADS says the single-seater made its official maiden flight at Le Bourget airport near Paris. The Cri-Cri’s lithium batteries give it 30 minutes of autonomous flight at 66 mph (110 kph).

There have been significant improvements in the endurance of electric propulsion systems for light aircraft in recent years. A number of firms in the evolving field are working on new designs, including one by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. which is likely to become the world’s first electric helicopter.

www.eads.com