First electric planes fly over English Channel

CALAIS, France — Airbus flew its electric plane across the English Channel for the first time Friday — hours after an independent French pilot made a similar voyage, beating the aeronautics giant in this symbolically important step toward making electronic flight viable in the long term.

French pilot Didier Esteyne prepares to exit the cockpit after crossing the Channel with his European planemaker Airbus E-Fan prototype, at the Calais Airport, northern France, Friday, July 10. AP Photo

Several companies in different countries are developing electric planes, in hopes of offering a fuel-free flight alternative for the future — and the battle to perform world “firsts” in electric planes is heating up as the technology becomes more durable.

Amid fanfare, European planemaker Airbus flew its E-fan plane from Lydd, England, to the French port of Calais on Friday morning. The plane operates exclusively on batteries, and since there’s no oil or water, the 20-foot long, 1300-pound jet releases zero emissions.

About 12 hours before Airbus’ Channel flight, French pilot Hugues Duval took his two-engine, one-seat Cricri plane from Calais to Dover and back.

Because he lacked authorization to take off from Calais, another fuel-driven plane towed his 100-kilogram (220-pound) Cricri for the start of the trip, he told The Associated Press. Then he flew autonomously back to Calais and landed safely.

He said he reached a speed of 150 kilometers (90 miles) an hour on his 52-kilometer (31-mile) journey.

Duval told The AP that his successful flight was a “relief” and an “important moment” after years of fine-tuning the plane and flying it over land.

Airbus officials gathered in Calais to celebrate the landing of the E-fan would not comment on Duval’s trip.

The E-fan took its maiden voyage in March 2014, and has taken off 100 times since its latest flight at the Paris Air Show last month. Airbus aims to put the two-seater on the market in 2017, targeting sales at training facilities for entry-level pilots.

“It’s a great victory, but it’s also a start. For us it’s an adventure that permits us” to imagine commercial flight on electric or hybrid planes, said pilot Didier Esteyne, who flew the Airbus plane Friday. “It’s really the beginning of great innovations.”