Aviation history made by electric aircraft

Aviation history was made by Banbury based Skyfly Technologies

Europe's first airfield-to-airfield flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has taken place.

Aviation history was made by Banbury based Skyfly Technologies, who saw its Axe aircraft travel from Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire to Bicester Airfield in Oxfordshire, and back again.

Skyfly's chief technical officer and test pilot, Dr William Brooks, piloted the prototype craft for the test flight.

The outbound journey took 12 minutes and the return took eight minutes and Mr Brooks said the aircraft "performed very well".

Dr William Brooks (left) piloted the flight and was greeted by Michael Thompson the founder and chief executive of Skyfly

He added: "It has a gentle feel in turbulence, giving the impression of more span because of the motor masses at the tips.

"The comfort, outstanding view and lack of noise make for enjoyable flying."

The aircraft can take off and land both vertically and conventionally and received the necessary UK Civil Aviation Authority clearance for flying in 2024.

The Axe features eight electric motors – two on each wingtip enclosed in a single nacelle – powered by high-capacity lithium batteries housed within the fuselage. These batteries are swappable and removable for convenient charging.

The prototype has now been readied for a trip to the United States at the end of July, where it will appear at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh - an event for experimental aircrafts.