[markab21]

As someone who regularly pilots a piston-single, I'm looking forward to what hybrid or full electric can do for us little guys. The takeoff phase of flight is a high-risk situation in events such as fuel contamination which could prove fatal.

Having a small buffer, even a few minutes of battery power to rely on while trying to get back to the field to land the "impossible turn" [1] would make me feel a lot better and could be the difference between life and death.

There are various groups (Pipstrel[2], Diamond[3]) that I'm aware of that are working on electric GA aircraft. For young pilots that are looking to train, the cost of jumping in a Cessna 172, the gold standard in GA trainers will cost at best $120-200/hr. Electric costs should be 1/5 (or better) of that in reality due to the absolute bargain of replacing a TBO electric engine, scheduled maintenance and relatively low level of complexity.

[1] https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/air-safety-institut...

[2] https://www.pipistrel-usa.com/electric-propulsion/

[3] https://www.flyingmag.com/diamond-da40-hybrid-electric-proto...

[AdrianB1]

As someone with a similar background, I find the cost argument idealistic: I can fly a 172 for 100 EURO/hour ($110) any time, while a smaller plane (Cessna 152 or an LSA) are about the same price, even if the LSA fuel consumption is half or less. I am looking at options to fly cheaper for a decade, there is very little elasticity in the price per hour versus fuel price, especially in Europe; the market is not competitive enough, the offer is small, the demand is small, the prices are staying high no matter what. Electric trainers should be a dream - cheap and safe; but they are not :(

[aeternus]

Bye Aerospace also has a pretty cool all-electric trainer aircraft that looks quite promising, and close to certification:

https://byeaerospace.com/

[dreamcompiler]

I've seen the Pipistrel at EAA a few times. It seems to be a real product, but flight time is quite short, even though it's basically a sailplane with an engine. That's why they're billing it as a trainer.