Rolls-Royce’s all-electric plane, Spirit of Innovation, has broken the world speed record for electric planes after reaching a top speed of 387.4 mph (623 km/h) during a test flight on November 16th. Propelled by a 500+ hp electric powertrain, the record flight spanned a distance of ~2 miles. The record is yet to be certified, so the company is submitting the trials to Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the body in charge of world aviation records. The previous record belonged to a Siemens-powered Extra 330LE with a top speed of 213 mph (342 km/h). Spirit of Innovation had made its maiden flight, lasting 15 minutes, just two months ago.
Zoom In: The Spirit of Innovation project is funded by the ACCEL program, a partnership between Rolls-Royce, Mercedes’ YASA, the U.K. Department for Business, and the Aerospace Technology Institute. Rolls-Royce is working with Italian aeronautics manufacturer Tecnam and Scandinavian regional airline Widerøe to begin commercial all-electric commuter operations in 2026.
