magniX has announced that Harbour Air, North America’s largest seaplane airline, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase 50 magni650 electric engines.
magniX’s electric propulsion units (EPUs) will be used to electrify Harbour Air’s fleet, beginning with the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in 2026.
The magni650s will also be used for third-party conversions.
The agreement is a milestone in electric aviation and a significant next step in the industry-leading partnership between magniX and Harbour Air.
In December 2019, the two companies made history when the eBeaver, a Harbour Air De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver retrofitted with a magniX electric engine, became the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft to take flight.
To date, the prototype eBeaver has flown 78 flights in preparation for the certification of the aircraft.
magniX is pioneering electric aviation, having powered historic flights by five different aircraft. Alongside the eBeaver, these include Eviation’s all-electric commuter airplane, Alice, and the world’s largest hydrogen-electric aircraft, Universal Hydrogen’s retrofitted De Havilland Dash 8.
“Electrifying Harbour Air’s fleet with magniX’s engines sets us on a course to define the future of regional flight,” said Riona Armesmith, Chief Technology Officer of magniX.
“The many flights that the eBeaver has now completed with magniX’s technology demonstrate that the electric age of aviation is here and bringing it to the marketplace is growing rapidly closer. As we mark Earth Day, we recognize the urgency of solutions such as this in answering the climate challenge.”
“We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future,” says Bert van der Stege, CEO of Harbour Air. “The agreement with magniX underscores our commitment to revolutionize commercial aviation with electric propulsion and to pave the way for cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air travel.”
