Electravia - Helices E-Props is a French aviation manufacturer based in Vaumeilh, specializing in the non-certified light aviation sector.[2] At one time it produced electric propulsion systems and now designs and manufactures carbon fibre propellers for light aircraft.[3]
French BL1E Electra F-PMDJ: the first registered electric aircraft in the world. First flight December 2007The electric MC15E Cri-Cri during world speed record in PontoiseFormer logo used until 2021E-Props Glorieuse model variable pitch propeller
The company was originally organized as an association called APAME to build and fly electric aircraft. It first flew its BL1E Electra on Sunday, 23 December 2007 at Aspres sur Buech airfield, Hautes Alpes, France. Test pilot Christian Vandamme flew the electric-powered, open-cockpit, strut-equipped airplane for 48 minutes, covering 50km (31mi). The BL1E Electra is powered by an 18kW (24hp) disk-brushed electric engine driven by a 47kg (104lb) KOKAM Lithium polymer battery.[4][5][6] The BL1E Electra was the first registered aircraft in the world powered by an electric motor running on batteries.[7]
The company was founded on 19 September 2008 by Anne Lavrand, Jérémie Buiatti and Christian Vandamme. At the time of its founding it mainly produced electric motors for light aircraft.[8]
Starting in 2008, Electravia began designing and manufacturing carbon fibre aircraft propellers, including fixed pitch, ground-adjustable pitch and variable pitch models. Propellers for paramotors, ultralights, light aircraft and UAV are made in the 1,700m2 (18,000sqft) workshop on Sisteron's airfield (LFNS). E-Props propellers claim to be the lightest on the market.[9][10]
On 5 September 2010, pilot Hugues Duval established a world speed record for electric aircraft with his twin engined MC15E Cri-CriE-Cristaline, equipped with Electravia engines, controllers, batteries and propellers. During the Pontoise Air show, a top speed of 262km/h (163mph; 141kn) was recorded by Aero Club de France organizers. Then, on 25 June 2011, during the official flight presentation at 2011 Paris Air Show (Salon du Bourget), Duval established a new world record of 283km/h (176mph).[11]
In 2012 the E-SPIDER was shown at the Mondial of Paramotors in Basse-Ham. It was the first two-seater electric paramotor capable of being foot-launched.[13]
By the beginning of 2014, about 70 aircraft had been equipped with Electravia propulsion systems, including the ElectroLight2 electric motorglider, based on the Scheibe Spatz[14][15][16][17] and the MC30E Firefly, with which Pilot Jean-Louis Soullier set a speed record of 189.87km/h (117.98mph).[18][19][20][21]
In 2014, the company decided to stop making electric motors to focus on the design of carbon fibre propellers.[8]
On 9 July 2015, the electric MC15E CriCri E-Cristaline became the first electric aircraft to cross the English Channel.[23][24]
By 2019, the propeller market for paramotors represented 40% of the company's sales. The company sold 4,500 models in over 80 countries.[25]
Originally E-Props propeller usage was restricted to visual flight rules conditions by the manufacturer, but this restriction was rescinded in a new edition of the Instruction and Service Manual issued in 2020. This edition replaced the earlier limitation with a warning stating "E-PROPS propellers are not 'certified' propellers: they are not compliant with aeronautical standard as AESA or FAA. However, they are compliant with the ASTM F2506-13 (LSA). Their use is the sole responsibility of the owner / pilot of the aircraft. The user admits knowing and accepting the risks of using such propellers, and admits knowing that his engine could stop abruptly."[26][27]
By 2021, the company had 40 aeronautical engineers and technicians[28] and was producing 45,000 propeller blades per year[29] and had started work to certify its propellers and production methods to European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards (DOA / CS-P / PART 21G).[30]
As of 2022, E-Props propellers are fitted to 220 different light aircraft and microlight models and 150 brands of paramotors. The company works directly with 35 major aircraft and microlight manufacturers to design its products.[31] It exports 87% of its propeller production to 80 different countries.[32]
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