Venture-backed electric aero-engine start-up Kite Magnetics has joined with leading kit aircraft producer CKD Aero to create what they claim will be the world’s most cost-efficient two-seat aircraft.
The Dakota e-Hawk is planned to be the first in a series of aircraft to be offered with all-electric powertrains by CKD, a Canadian company which is a global leader in wooden and composite kit aircraft manufacturing.
The Dakota e-Hawk will be powered by Kite Magnetics’ KM-60 electric engine. Paired with a high-capacity battery, the engine will enable the aircraft to fly for more than an hour before requiring re-charging. The cost of re-charging is estimated at around $4, about 75% less than fossil fuel.
The electric propulsion also makes oil cooling, radiators and fuel tanks redundant. Consequently, the KM-60 electric engine is significantly lighter than a fossil fuel engine although it does require the additional weight of a battery.
Kite Magnetics chief executive Dr Richard Parsons said: “Imagine flying without the hassle of engine checks or the smell of leaded avgas. With CKD Aero and Kite Magnetics’ electric aircraft you get a silent, smooth ride that’s gentler on your wallet and the planet.”
The Dakota e-Hawk will make its debut at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow in the US later this year. The aircraft is an electric version of a high-wing monoplane that has been produced for kit building since 1993.
Melbourne-based Kite Magnetics was spun out of research at Monash University in 2022. A $1.85 million seed funding round was led by early-stage venture firm Investible and supported by state government investment agency Breakthrough Victoria, Possible Ventures, Galileo Ventures and Boson Ventures.
Use of Kite Magnetics’ Aeroperm magnetic alloy is claimed to significantly reduce energy waste in its electric motors enabling the use of air cooling even at high-power levels.
Image: The Dakota Hawk aircraft which will soon be offered with Kite Magnetics’ electric aero-engine.