The Air Current
• Elan Head
Whisper Aero has begun piloted flight testing of its eQ250 electric ducted-fan propulsion system aboard a modified Swift 3 glider. The startup says the work advances applications in civil and defense markets, alongside projects involving the FAA, while demonstrating the system’s low-noise performance.
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Australian start-up Stralis Aircraft has ended plans to develop hydrogen propulsion conversions for Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft, citing a lack of funding. The decision removes another early-stage effort from the emerging hydrogen-electric aviation sector and underscores the financing challenges facing alternative-propulsion programs.
SpaceX’s proposed orbital data centers would place large-scale computing hardware in space, creating a new end-of-life challenge for electronic equipment beyond Earth. The concept resembles asteroid mining in reverse: instead of extracting material from orbit, operators could leave behind increasingly difficult-to-manage e-waste.
Dovetail Electric Aviation says it is confident of agreeing the certification basis for its DovePower electric propulsion system with Europe’s civil aviation regulator by year-end. The developer’s outlook follows its first firm customer agreement and a battery industrialization pact, strengthening its path toward commercializing the powertrain.
Electra says it has completed a series of demonstration flights with its ultra-short takeoff and landing hybrid-electric aircraft, testing a potential feeder role for major airports. The demonstrations assess whether the aircraft’s short-field capability can support new regional connectivity models around existing airport infrastructure.
American Airlines paused a contrail-avoidance trial shortly after launching it, as a spring surge in jet fuel prices prompted the carrier to target costs. The decision highlights the operational and economic tension between aviation’s climate initiatives and immediate fuel-price pressures.
High activity
Whisper Aero has begun piloted flight testing of its eQ250 electric ducted-fan propulsion system aboard a modified Swift 3 glider. The startup says the work advances applications in civil and defense markets, alongside projects involving the FAA, while demonstrating the system’s low-noise performance.
Hybrid-electric aircraft startup Ampaire has secured $19 million in Series B funding from IAG, Alaska Airlines and venture capital investors. The financing brings strategic airline backing alongside private capital as Ampaire advances its hybrid-electric aviation technology and commercialization efforts.
Stralis, a developer of hydrogen-powered aircraft, is shutting down after saying the slow pace of ecosystem development has weakened commercial demand and impaired its ability to raise capital. The closure underscores the financing pressure facing emerging aircraft technologies before supporting infrastructure and markets mature.
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