The Briefing
- Plane flew from Sweden to Vaasa.
- First electric aircraft crossing open sea.
- Part of European emission-free aviation tour.
An electric two-seater aircraft successfully crossed the open sea between Sweden and Finland on Tuesday, landing at Vaasa Airport. The flight from Umeå marks the first time a certified electric plane has completed such a marine crossing.
The journey is part of a 5,600-kilometre emission-free European tour that began in Germany. The aircraft will continue through Finland and the Baltic countries before returning to Central Europe.
The Elektra Trainer aircraft was designed exclusively for electric propulsion. It can fly for two and a half hours on a single charge, while recharging the battery fully takes approximately three hours.
Experienced test pilot Uwe Nortmann, 77, is flying the entire route. He told local media that crossing the waterway between Sweden and Finland was faster and smoother than anticipated.
The journey has faced minor weather challenges along the way. A lightning strike during a storm at Sweden’s Storvik airport damaged the aircraft’s charging system, but it was quickly repaired using replacement parts from Germany.
The aircraft is a fully commercial model available on the market rather than an experimental prototype. Oulu University of Applied Sciences has purchased an identical model arriving next spring to research long-distance electric flights and charging infrastructure.
Electric aviation is seen as a key solution to reducing transport emissions across the European Union.
Electric aviation key to reducing carbon emissions
Electric aviation is seen as a key solution to reducing transport emissions across the European Union, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Small battery-powered planes can significantly lower operating costs and noise pollution compared to traditional fossil-fuel aircraft.
Battery weight remains the primary obstacle for the long-haul aviation industry. Regional aviation experts expect that as battery energy density improves, larger electric aircraft capable of carrying up to 20 passengers will become viable for regular routes.
While in Finland, the aircraft will be displayed to the public at the Kuhmo Fly-in event.
This modern aviation milestone mirrors a famous historical event for the country. In March 1918, Finland received its first aircraft after Swedish pilots flew it across the exact same route from Umeå to Vaasa.
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