1st USAF eVTOL Pilots Had Extensive Training, Sim, Before BETA ALIA Flight
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- Ground school sessions covered structures, batteries, electric motors, preflight and extensive safety training, and more
- The demo flight is part of a two-year partnership between BETA Technologies and the AFWERX Agility Prime Program
The first US Air Force pilots to fly an electric aircraft with military airworthiness received extensive training in aircraft academics prior to their historic flight last week. Hank “Hog” Griffiths and Maj. Jonathan Appleby were provided comprehensive manuals before flying BETA Technologies’ electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, ALIA.
Ground school sessions covered every aspect of piloting ALIA: structures, batteries, electric motors, flight controls, aerodynamics, and avionics as well as preflight and extensive safety training. Both pilots also underwent simulator training, where they were able to fly the exact test flight route planned for the demonstration.
The demo flight was the culmination of a two-year partnership between BETA and the AFWERX Agility Prime Program. Air Force engineers have worked alongside BETA’s flight test team to refine the ALIA aircraft. Last year BETA was also awarded the first Air Force airworthiness approval for an electric aircraft with personnel on board. The partnership operates under a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract.
The ALIA aircraft, which has been in development for over three years, is fully electric and claims zero operational emissions. Though it was created to be a cargo carrier, fitting a pilot and three standard pallets, the aircraft can seat up to five passengers, plus a pilot.
Griffiths, AFWERX Airworthiness and Test Lead and Chief of Engineering, said, “BETA has developed a unique eVTOL air system that is the complete package and includes an air vehicle and charging network that will surely compete well in this emerging competitive market.”
Kyle Clark, BETA founder and CEO, said, “This flight signifies an important milestone, providing the opportunity for a clean future for our nation's military and a path to fossil fuel independence."
In the civil eVTOL space, BETA is partnered with CAE for pilot training.
