Frenchmen dispute first-ever electric plane Channel crossing

French pilot Didier Esteyne says he has made aviation history after flying an all-electric plane across the English Channel this morning. But the claim is being disputed because another pilot - Hugues Duval - flew from the French port of Calais to the English shoreline and back last night. Esteyne flew an Airbus E-Fan from Lydd in Kent to Calais on Friday morning in a journey which took less than 40 minutes. Airbus’ twin-engine plane is powered by batteries enabling it to stay airborne for up to 50 minutes. It has two seats and a 31ft wing-span, with a total engine power of 60kW.

It is closer to a glider because there is less noise than an aeroplane.Also, there is no vibration at all. It’s smooth and very quiet.

Didier Esteyne

Duval said after his earlier rival flight that he felt “relief”, adding this it was an “important moment” for him after years of developing and testing the plane by flying it over land. But Airbus dismissed the rival attempt, saying: “We are not worried. It would not count. We applaud the intrepid aviator that did this, although the actual details are yet to be confirmed.”

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