US college buys 20 electric Sun Flyer aircraft

A US college is to buy the first 20 all-electric Sun Flyer two-seat training aircraft being developed by Aero Electric Aircraft Corp (AEAC). The Sun Flyer uses on-board solar panels to recharge its batteries and is based on the German single-seat PC One, which is already flying.

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, of Tulsa, Oklamhoma, has signed a Training Program Development and Deposit Agreement with AEAC. Spartan is reserving the first 20 Sun Flyer delivery positions and is to help develop a complete training system for the aircraft.

Peter Harris, CEO of Spartan College, said, “This agreement signifies our commitment to innovation and to serving the next generation of pilots. Spartan College is honored to be the first training school to formalize our collaboration on a complete training system that will make flight training more modern, accessible and economical than ever before.”

George Bye, CEO of AEAC, thanked Spartan College for their collaboration and support. “Our goal with Sun Flyer is to achieve lower operating costs and enhanced safety features for a training airplane by focusing on the benefits of solar-electric propulsion and durable composite construction,” he said. “Spartan College is to be commended for their innovative spirit and forward-thinking strategy.”

AEAC is planning to offer the first certified US-sponsored, practical, all-electric airplane serving the aviation training markets. The company recently unveiled the single-seat technology demonstrator for its next-generation solar-electric training aircraft and continues to perform initial R&D flight test operations at Centennial Airport near Denver. Flight tests will continue while the first two-seat prototype Sun Flyer is assembled.

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Aero Electric Aircraft Corp
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology