Beta Technologies Plans Non-eVTOL Version Of Its Electric Alia-250

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Beta Technologies has announced it plans to develop, certify and produce the CX300, a dedicated electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) version of its electric-powered Alia-250 vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company has been flying two test aircraft; one with vertical takeoff capability and one without a working rotor system required for the urban-air mobility mission. The latter recently completed demonstration flights from New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN).

According to Beta, “eVTOLs spend more than 98 percent of flights in wingborne cruise,” so it makes sense to certify and market a non-eVTOL version of the aircraft. Both eCTOL and eVTOL versions will share a common airframe, batteries, motors and systems. The CX300 would have the performance advantages of lighter weight, less drag and fewer parts and systems, making production less costly (Beta told AVweb it does not discuss pricing information at this time). And the certification process for a fixed-wing-only aircraft under Part 23 will be less complex and costly than that involved with the eVTOL Alia-250.

“New and existing customers have placed orders for the eCTOL aircraft, including United Therapeutics, Bristow, and Air New Zealand,” according to Beta. Company founder and CEO Kyle Clark said, “We have been flying our eCTOL prototype airport-to-airport for a few years now to drive technological advancements in propulsion and systems, and now we’re seeing that there is a clear market for this product in addition to our eVTOL aircraft. Global operators are looking for practical solutions to help meet their sustainability commitments, and after seeing the cost and performance of this prototype, our customers are eager to integrate it into their fleet. With its known certification and operational path, this aircraft represents an opportunity to get electric aviation into the market, and into the hands of our customers, as quickly as possible.”

Mark Phelps
Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Without much better batteries, and very friendly FAA changes how do they plan to get commercially legal aircraft in the US?

    Without the US, where the market for short flights is going to get worse without a commitment to increase the number of urban airports anyways, how will there be any sort of volume?

    I’ve pointed out what cities need are STOL ports inserted into central business areas, but no one listens because they thing everything will be VTOL.

  2. Or if you want a VTOL; just buy any of the already certified and numerous helicopters that are available in the market. If there IS a market for urban mobility then existing/cheaper helicopters would already be doing it. Q.E.D.

  3. …..And, both aircraft will be certified and in production by the second quarter of 2024. The rumor is they already have 5,000 firm orders with hefty deposits, as well as $134 million of investments in Silicon Valley Bank.
    These articles are just like Saturday Night Live episodes.

  4. Might as well just mount wings on a Tesla. About as much chance of success as this “Non-eVTOL”.

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