Dovetail Electric Aviation completes initial ground tests

Dovetail Electric Aviation has announced successful completion of initial ground tests for a small-scale electric propulsion system (EPS.)

The company, which is developing drive trains to retrofit to light aircraft and targeting regional aviation, made the announcement on Tuesday morning at the 2023 Avalon Air Show, where it is showcasing the initial results of its EPS.

Dovetail said that the “Iron Bird” function test, named DTX0.5, involved a consortium of partners and included a prototype magni250 electric motor from MagniX. The company added that its strategy of “integrating as many off-the-shelf components as possible” was beginning to pay off.

It named Swinburne University of Technology, Sydney Seaplanes and magniX as providing “invaluable support” for the debut spin of a three-blade propeller.

“The purpose of the test was to set up a universal ground test rig that can be used to assess various energy storage systems in system-level testing,” it explained in a statement.

“Dovetail’s next steps will include system-level testing of various energy storage systems and system components. The magni250 will also be upgraded to the magni650 (650kW) electric motor from magniX in the coming months.”

The company is aiming for the first flight of a battery-powered aircraft in roughly a year from now, working with Sydney Seaplanes.

Dovetail’s Business Operations Manager and co-founder Rachael Barritt was a guest on the @AuManufacturing Conversations podcast earlier this month. The episode can be accessed here.

Picture: supplied