H55 partners with Elfly to distribute electric aircraft – AeroTime

Swiss electric aviation startup H55, led by adventurer and entrepreneur André Borschberg, has formed a commercial partnership with Norwegian electric seaplane developer Elfly Group.

This partnership, announced on December 16, 2024, involves Elfly Group purchasing three units of the innovative B23 Energic battery-electric aircraft, with options for two additional units in the future.

Elfly Group aims to launch a battery-powered seaplane named “Noemi” by the end of the decade. In the interim, following this agreement, the Norwegian startup, directed by former software entrepreneur Eric Lithun, will act as the exclusive distributor of the B23 Energic in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

The B23 Energic is on track to be the first fully electric aircraft to earn EASA’s CS-23 certification for utility, aerobatic, and commuter aircraft. This aircraft results from a collaboration between BRM Aero, a Czech light aircraft manufacturer, and H55, which develops the electric powertrain and associated systems. It boasts an endurance of 60 minutes plus reserves, making it ideal for flight training schools where typical missions rarely exceed this duration.

In the spring of 2024, H55 will begin accepting orders for the B23 Energic, with initial deliveries anticipated in 2026.

Before those deliveries, in early 2025, H55 and Elfly will initiate a demonstration tour to present the B23 Energic to flight schools throughout Scandinavia. During this tour, pilots will have the opportunity to test fly the aircraft, gaining insight into its capabilities.

H55, headquartered in Sion, Switzerland, was founded by Borschberg, who, in 2016, made history by completing a circumnavigation of the globe in a solar-powered aircraft named Solar Impulse alongside the distinguished Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard.