Ampaire hybrid‑electric aircraft completes test flight in Utah

Ampaire Inc. and the Utah Department of Transportation carried out a hybrid‑electric demonstration flight on 6 August, flying the Ampaire EEL—a Cessna 337 Skymaster testbed with electric nose‑propeller and conventional aft‑propeller—from Salt Lake City International Airport to Cedar City Regional Airport. The 240‑mile trip took 1 hour 45 minutes on a single battery charge and was part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) and Utah’s new uFLY initiative, one of eight projects selected across 26 states to evaluate advanced air‑mobility operations.

The flight follows an earlier 3 August test that covered 648 miles from Long Beach to Salt Lake City in 4 hours 18 minutes. Ampire plans to use the EEL for early operational learning and to introduce the Eco Caravan, a hybrid‑electric upgrade for the Cessna Grand Caravan, later in the programme. Data gathered will help the FAA refine procedures and support safe integration of advanced aircraft into U.S. airspace, with further tests scheduled through 2026.