Bye Aerospace
{{Short description|American aircraft manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Bye Aerospace
| logo = File:Bye Aerospace logo.png
| caption =
| type = Privately held company
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| foundation =
| founder = George E. Bye
| defunct =
| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = Unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served =
| key_people = CEO: George E. Bye
| industry = Aerospace
| products = Electric aircraft
| services =
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| divisions =
| subsid = Aero Electric Aircraft Corporation
| homepage = {{URL|www.byeaerospace.com}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
Bye Aerospace is an American aircraft manufacturer based in unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of electric aircraft, including unmanned aircraft for geospatial role and light aircraft for the flight training role.{{cite web|url=https://www.byeaerospace.com/contact/|title=Contact|author=Bye Aerospace|website=byeaerospace.com|accessdate=21 March 2018}}
The company was founded by George E. Bye, who remains the CEO.{{cite web|url=https://www.byeaerospace.com/about/|title=About|author=Bye Aerospace|website=byeaerospace.com|accessdate=21 March 2018}}
History
In July 2010, Bye Energy developed a proof-of-concept electrically powered Cessna 172 with support from Cessna Aircraft.{{Cite news|url=http://www.avweb.com/news/nbaa/NBAA2010_Electric172MayFlyEarlyNextYear_203463-1.html|title=Electric 172 May Fly Early Next Year|last=Grady|first=Mary|date=October 2010|work=AVweb|accessdate=21 March 2018}} Bye Energy changed its name to Beyond Aviation at the time that the prototype commenced taxi tests in July 2011.{{Cite news|url=http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/EAAAirVenture2011_ElectricCessna172StartsTaxiTests_205083-1.html|title=Electric Cessna 172 Starts Taxi Tests|last=Grady|first=Mary|date=July 2011|work=AVweb|accessdate=21 March 2018}} The aircraft first flew in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=28964|title=Electric Cessna Makes Multiple Flights on Lithium Batteries|work=evworld.com|date=19 Oct 2012|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120075857/http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=28964|archive-date=20 November 2016|url-status=dead}} The R&D project was not pursued for production and the company is currently dormant.{{cite web|url=http://www.beyond-aviation.com/|title=Beyond Aviation Archive Project|website=www.beyond-aviation.com|accessdate=21 March 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Koonce |first1=Michael |title=Stangerone-Bye Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjq8ixM0oEw |website=YouTube |publisher=Aero-News Network |accessdate=2 June 2020}}
The company developed the Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer, a modified PC-Aero Elektra One, as a prototype electric aircraft in 2015.{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/bca/questions-george-bye |title= Questions for George Bye |work= Aviation Week Network |date= Apr 1, 2015 |author= William Garvey}}{{cite news |url= http://www.aviationpros.com/article/12083153/aeacs-sun-flyer-aims-to-be-the-next-generation-flight-training-aircraft |title= AEAC's Sun Flyer Aims to Be The Next Generation Flight Training Aircraft |work= AviationPros |date= Jul 16, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sun-Flyer-Prototype-On-Assembly-Line-224471-1.html|title=Sun Flyer Prototype On Assembly Line|work=AVweb|author=Elaine Kauh|date= July 20, 2015}}
The development of the Sun Flyer 2 was originally carried out by a Bye Aerospace subsidiary, called the Aero Electric Aircraft Corporation. As of March 2018, it was being merged into the parent company.
By July 2015, the company was developing the Sun Flyer 2, a two-seat electric-powered aircraft for the flight training role.{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sun-Flyer-Promises-Three-Hour-Flight-Time-224539-1.html|title=Sun Flyer Promises Three-Hour Flight Time|work=AvWeb|date=July 23, 2015}} By March 2016, Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. has delivered the prototype for final stages of development.{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sun-Flyer-Prototype-Readying-For-Final-Tests-225789-1.html|title=Sun Flyer Prototype Readying For Final Tests|work=avweb.com|author= Elaine Kauh |date= March 4, 2016}} It was rolled-out in May 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sun-Flyer-Proof-Of-Concept-Model-Rolls-Out-226225-1.html|title=Sun Flyer Proof-Of-Concept Model Rolls Out|work=AvWeb|date=May 11, 2016}} By July 2016, first flight was planned in the fall.{{cite web|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2017-07-26/electric-sun-flyer-plans-fall-first-flight|title=Electric Sun Flyer Plans Fall First Flight|first=Mark|last=Huber|date=July 26, 2017|publisher=AIN Online}} By November 2016, ground and taxi tests had begun.{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sun-Flyer-Begins-Ground-Taxi-Tests-228049-1.html|title = Sun Flyer Begins Ground, Taxi Tests|last = Kauh|first = Elaine|work=AVweb|date = 17 November 2016}} It was first flown on 10 April 2018.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/First-Flight-For-Sun-Flyer-2226128168226128168-230637-1.html |title = First Flight For Sun Flyer 2|last=Grady|first = Mary|work = AVweb|date = 11 April 2018}} The derivative Sun Flyer 4 is a four-seat design, yet to be completed.{{cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/july/24/four-seat-sun-flyer-in-the-works|title=Four-Seat Sun Flyer in the Works|date=July 24, 2017|first=Alyssa J.|last=Cobb|publisher=AOPA}} Both aircraft are low-wing designs, with bubble canopies, made from composite materials, predominately carbon fibre. Both are powered by lithium-ion batteries.{{cite web|url=https://www.byeaerospace.com/projects/|title=Projects|publisher=Bye Aerospace|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925042455/https://www.byeaerospace.com/projects/|url-status=dead}}
The launch customer for both the Sun Flyer 2 and 4 is the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology which will employ both for flight training. By September 2018, the company had 130 deposits for the two-seat Sun Flyer 2 and 27 deposits for the larger, four-seat Sun Flyer 4.
On July 31, 2018, Bye Aerospace flew a piloted prototype of its solar-powered unmanned StratoAirNet and manned Solesa from the Northern Colorado Regional Airport.
Based on a carbon fiber composite competition sailplane, it has a {{convert|15|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} wing span and thin-film photovoltaic cells from SolAero Technologies.
The low-cost, long-endurance commercial and government surveillance aircraft could be used for patrol, mapping, precision agriculture or search-and-rescue and has low infrared and acoustic signatures.{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/future-aerospace/week-technology-sept-3-7-2018 |title= The Week In Technology, Sept. 3-7, 2018 |date= Aug 27, 2018 |author= Graham Warwick |work= Aviation Week & Space Technology}}
Also under development, in conjunction with the XTI Aircraft Company, is the TriFan 600, a hybrid-electric VTOL business aircraft. Previously, the company developed the Silent Falcon UAV for Silent Falcon UAS Technologies.{{Cite web |last=Reichmann |first=Kelsey |date=2021-06-15 |title=Xeriant Has Joined XTI to Develop the TriFan 600 |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/06/15/xeriant-joined-xti-develop-trifan-600/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Avionics International |language=en}}
In August 2019, the company announced that it was partnering with OXIS Energy to develop a Lithium–sulfur battery for use in the four-seat Sun Flyer 4.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/bye-looks-to-lithium-sulfur-for-electric-aircraft-power/|title = Bye Looks To Lithium-Sulfur For Electric Aircraft Power|access-date = 10 August 2019|last = O'Connor|first = Kate|work = AVweb|date = 8 August 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190810185942/https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/bye-looks-to-lithium-sulfur-for-electric-aircraft-power/|archivedate = 10 August 2019}}
On August 21, 2019, Bye announced the sale of 26 aircraft to Los Angeles-based air taxi operator Quantum Air.{{Cite web|url=https://byeaerospace.com/quantum-signs-for-26-electric-airplanes-from-bye-aerospace/|title=Quantum Signs for 26 Electric Airplanes from Bye Aerospace|last=Lincoln|first=Alexis|date=2019-08-21|website=Bye Aerospace|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/august/22/quantum-air-to-buy-24-bye-aerospace-eflyers|title=Air taxi disruptor buys Bye's electric airplanes|date=2019-08-22|website=www.aopa.org|access-date=2019-08-25}}
After the project was revealed as under development in June 2020,{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/bye-aerospace-to-expand-eflyer-family-with-six-to-nine-seat-model/138705.article |title= Bye Aerospace to expand eFlyer family with six-to-nine-seat model |last= Sarsfield |first=Kate |date= 5 June 2020 |work= Flightglobal}} Bye Aerospace officially announced the eFlyer 800 in April 2021, to be powered by Safran electric motors. This is planned to be an all-electric six- to nine-seat aircraft to compete with traditional fossil-fuel powered executive aircraft for the air taxi, air freight, regional airliner and aircraft charter roles. The eFlyer 800 aims to have operating costs of 20% of the Beechcraft King Air with a cruise speed of up to {{convert|320|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, a {{convert|35000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} operating ceiling and a range of {{convert|500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} with 45-minute IFR reserves.{{Cite news|date=April 21, 2021|title=Electric Aviation Trailblazer Bye Aims To Dethrone The King Air|work=Forbes|last=Bogaisky|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2021/04/21/bye-eflyer-king-air-oxis-electric-turboprop/|access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/bye-aerospace-introduces-eight-seat-eflyer/|title= Bye Aerospace Introduces Eight-Seat eFlyer|access-date= 23 April 2021|last= O'Connor|first= Kate|work= AVweb|date= 22 April 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423121044/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/bye-aerospace-introduces-eight-seat-eflyer/|archive-date= 23 April 2021|url-status= live}}
It was announced in May 2021 that Oxis Energy had been placed into administration, with the majority of its employees made redundant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.electrive.com/2021/05/21/oxis-energy-is-facing-bankruptcy/|title=Oxis Energy is facing bankruptcy|date=21 May 2021|website=electrive.com}}
At AirVenture in July 2021 George Bye of Bye Aerospace stated that the eFlyer 2 will be certified in late 2022 or early 2023, the eFlyer 4 certified in late 2023 or early 2024 and the eFlyer 800 certified in late 2025 or early 2026.{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/bye-aerospace-lays-out-its-aggressive-aircraft-development-agenda/|title= Bye Aerospace Lays Out Its Aggressive Aircraft Development Agenda|access-date= 15 July 2021|last= Phelps|first= Mark|work= AVweb|date= 30 July 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220507194114/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/bye-aerospace-lays-out-its-aggressive-aircraft-development-agenda/|archive-date= 7 May 2022|url-status= live}}
Aircraft
Summary of aircraft built by Bye Aerospace:
- Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer - single example of a prototype
- Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2 - single example of an intended 2-seat training aircraft
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|https://www.byeaerospace.com}}
{{Bye Aerospace aircraft}}
Category:Aircraft manufacturers of the United States