AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025 - 62

Skymaster
When Ampaire first flew the Electric EEL to
AirVenture, folks were interested in the technology,
but not necessarily interested in the
Skymaster application. The company pivoted
to aiming for a different market that has
now led them to their modified Eco Caravan.
Skymaster came with two Continental IO-360s. This
Skymaster behind us had the original 360 in the back
removed to be replaced with this STC bigger IO-550, "
says Gillen. " Then we took the front engine off the 360
that was still there from an original installation and
installed the Ampaire electric power system. The electric
power system is basically equivalent to the engine
that we took off in terms of power rating. Then, of
course, with the bigger engine on the back, we get the
added performance of that big engine on the back. "
" Where do airplanes use the most power?
Obviously, it's in takeoff and climb phases, " Gillen says.
" What Ampaire's goal has done is identified that extra
power that you need for the climb, takeoff and climb,
that you don't really need in cruise, you can replace
with the electric power, " he says. " So, it's like a power
augmentation system, if you will. "
Seguin will be flying today, and he notes the only
tricky thing is the adjustments made to both powerplants,
and to make sure you're adjusting the correct
one-electric in front, IO-550 in the back-throughout
the flight. Seguin notes that the battery in a belly pod
on the Skymaster is the big safety hazard and describes
the smoke hoods to use in case of emergency, but
62
AOPA PILOT / March 2025
otherwise, the safety briefing is standard. Electrical
fire and thermal runaway are the worst-case scenarios,
and he recounts having to call ahead to fire stations
on various missions to tell them if they land off-airport
and see an airplane on fire, to absolutely not try
to put it out with water. " You've seen videos of Teslas
on fire, right? "
Engine start begins with the electric engine emitting
a wholly undramatic whir and hum we're used
to hearing near electric cars, not airplanes. Electric is
started first because otherwise you wouldn't be able to
hear it start at all. Ampaire's model is to provide a fuel,
and therefore cost, savings by augmenting combustion
power with electric power. In takeoff, this is where
the most savings can be made and will be especially
effective for short hop essential air service-type flights
around the world (think delivering mail in places like
the Hawaiian Islands and the coast of Scotland, where
Ampaire has already done some proof-of-concept
record-breaking flights).
In the air, everything is normal, familiar. It feels
nearly exactly the same as flying any aircraft, the only
persistent discernable difference is the variation in
sound from the unsynced propellers. Otherwise, it is
The Eco Caravan
represents the
market Ampaire
hopes to break
into first with its
AmpDrive H570
powerplant.
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025
