Battery-Powered Italian Plane, the SkySpark Project, Flies 155 mph

The Italian-based SkySpark Project recently flew its battery-powered plane to a possible world speed record for electric planes: 155 mph. The two-seater Pioneer Alpi 300 aircraft is powered by a brushless 75-kW motor and lithium polymer batteries. Unlike reciprocating aviation engines, the electric motor and its controls let the pilot vary the rpms and torque. The next step is to convert from batteries to hydrogen fuel cells.