Rolls-Royce says the successful first flight of its sporty-looking electric aircraft prototype will launch a series of test flights, some of which will potentially push the plane to 300 mph or faster. The plane, which bears resemblance to the Relentless unlimited racer at the Reno Air Races, took off from the RAF's facility at Boscombe Down in September and flew for 15 minutes on the first hop. The plane has a 400-kilowatt drivetrain with what Rolls-Royce says is "the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft." Rolls-Royce is involved with other electric aircraft initiatives, including a short hop airliner in Norway but the speedy prototype could be the basis of a new military trainer.
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