Diamond Aircraft’s electric single-engine eDA40 recently made its first flight, marking the start of a flight-test program leading to certification under EASA and FAA Part 23 rules by early 2024. On Wednesday, the aircraft manufacturer announced the first takeoff was achieved on July 20 from its headquarters at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, near Vienna.

The eDA40 is powered by the EngineUs 100 electric motor developed by Safran Electrical & Power. The propulsion system also consists of a battery module provided by Electric Power Systems that features a direct current fast-charging system.

Piloting the aircraft on its inaugural jaunt was Diamond head of flight test Sören Pedersen. He covered system checks, basic maneuvers, and an initial performance evaluation during the flight which Diamond said went as planned.

The electric version of the two-seat DA40 trainer is expected to be able to fly for up to 90 minutes. It should take under 20 minutes to recharge the batteries, with Diamond predicting that operating costs will be 40 percent less than a comparable piston aircraft. The flight deck features Garmin G1000 NXi avionics.

“We are very much looking forward to offering an exceptional sustainable aircraft for the flight training market of tomorrow,” said Diamond Aircraft Austria CEO Liqun "Frank" Zhang.

According to France-based Safran, it recently obtained EASA’s design organization approval for the EngineUs 100 motor. Bruno Bellanger, executive v-p and general manager of the power division at Safran Electrical & Power, said the company is in “the home stretch in obtaining final certification.”