5 Oct 2023
ARLINGTON, Wa., U.S., October 5, 2023 – Eviation Aircraft, a manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, today announced that test pilot Steve Crane has won the prestigious Iven C. Kincheloe Award for Alice’s first flight. The award, given by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), recognizes outstanding accomplishment by a test pilot in conducting a test flight.
Crane received the award at the SETP 67th Annual Awards Banquet in Anaheim, California on 30 September 2023. Crane and Eviation join the long list of aerospace legends to have won the award. These include Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, who were honored for the Apollo XI moon mission. The names of Crane and Eviation will both be added to those of their illustrious predecessors on the Kincheloe award trophy kept at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
A Major Milestone in Aviation History
The nine-seater Alice flew for eight minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet on 27 September 2022 in Washington State, making it the world’s first flight-tested all-electric commuter aircraft. Built from a clean-sheet design, the Alice produces zero emissions and costs significantly less to operate per flight hour compared with light jets or high-end turboprops. It is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units developed by magniX, the global industry leader in flight-proven electric propulsion systems.
“Steve worked directly with two flight test engineers, a small cadre of design engineers, and business leadership to maintain steady progress towards a safe first flight,” noted the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in presenting the Kincheloe Award to Crane. “Steve’s contribution to the aircraft program was invaluable, and ultimately culminated in his flawless first flight of the Alice, representing a major milestone for electric aviation and the future of air mobility.”
“Receiving the Kincheloe was a wonderful honor and recognition for the amazing accomplishment that our Eviation team achieved with the successful first flight of Alice,” said Steve Crane in accepting the award. “We set the bar for commercial electric aviation that others will be measured against. It’s tremendously important that we keep moving that bar forward. Now is the time to continue the journey of making electric aviation the wave of the future. I’m so very humbled to be a part of this team and look forward to what we’ll do together in the years to come.”
About Eviation Aircraft
Based in Washington State, Eviation Aircraft Inc. develops and manufactures electric aircraft to delight operators and passengers with green, cost efficient and convenient regional transportation. Its electric propulsion units, high-energy-density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and innovative airframe are designed from the ground up for electric flight. Please visit us at www.eviation.com.
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