Describing the event as “a momentous occasion” and an “incredible achievement”, Matheu Parr recalls how Rolls-Royce Electrical’s demonstrator aircraft Spirit of Innovation set three world records. On 16 November 2021 the ACCEL (short for Accelerating the Electrification of Flight) project delivered top speeds over distances of 3km and 15km, and for the fastest 3,000m climb. With the records verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the aircraft reached a top speed of 623km/h (387.4mph), making it the world’s fastest all-electric vehicle.
The success of the government-backed project prompted the then UK business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to state that Spirit of Innovation would help to make electric flight part of everyday life, while stimulating the production of “cleaner, greener aircraft which will allow people to fly as they do now, but in a way that cuts emissions”.
Project lead for Spirit of Innovation and now Rolls-Royce Electrical...