WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) — On March 9, Hank Griffiths and Maj. Jonathan Appleby, both U.S. Air Force pilots, flew BETA Technologies’ electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, ALIA, as the first-ever Airmen to fly an electric aircraft with military airworthiness.
This milestone, which took place at BETA’s Plattsburgh, New York, hangar and testing facility – just 35 miles from its South Burlington, Vermont, headquarters – is the culmination of a two-year partnership between BETA and the Agility Prime Program.
Since partnering in 2020, Air Force engineers have worked alongside BETA’s flight test team to develop and refine the ALIA aircraft to make electric aviation a reality. ALIA has made significant technical advancements throughout the partnership. In addition to last week’s achievement, in 2021, BETA was also awarded the first Air Force airworthiness approval for an electric aircraft with personnel on board.