H55 is expanding its presence in Sion, Switzerland, by further building up the company’s research, production and testing facilities through the strong financial support of the Canton of Valais. This contribution will enable H55 to be ready to ship its electric propulsion systems to airplane manufacturers by early 2022, representing another important milestone in positioning the company as a leader in electric aviation and in clean air transport solutions.
H55 is pleased to share today’s announcement of the decision by the Canton of Valais in providing a financial contribution to assist in setting-up research, production and testing facilities in Sion and its integration into the Canton’s Energypolis Innovation Park eco-system. This follows the support H55 already received from The Ark Foundation, the City of Sion and the Centre de Cautionnement et de Financement.
André Borschberg, H55’s Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, welcomes this positive development: “with the support of the Canton of Valais, H55 can now accelerate its commercialization plans. Working with Valais is more than just financial support. We both share the same vision on how clean technologies can reduce carbon emissions while at the same time providing a stimulus to economic growth. It’s about taking an important step together showing that protecting the environment is also good for the economy”.
The COVID pandemic does not change H55 goals
Despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, H55 is on track in maintaining its goal to certify its electric propulsion system by the end of 2021. Airborne and flying since June 2019, the Bristell Energic, H55’s first customer application, recently completed an important flight test program. The Bristell Energic is an electric trainer airplane for flight schools and pilot training, manufactured by BRM Aero. The airplane has an endurance of 1.5 hours, providing 45-60 minutes of mission flight with enough reserves, a typical pilot training program.
Created in 2017 and backed by ND Capital (Silicon Valley), H55 is a technological spin-off from Solar Impulse, the first electric airplane to have flown around the world. Co-founded by André Borschberg, Sébastien Demont and Gregory Blatt, H55 develops certified electric propulsion solutions to enable the next aviation revolution. The company focuses on the entire propulsion chain, starting from the energy source and its management, through thrust and power, to pilot interface and control systems.