Jekta Prepares to Fly Second Sub-Scale Electric Seaplane

Jekta is preparing to start flight testing a second sub-scale example of its PHA-ZE 100 hydrogen-electric amphibious aircraft. The Swiss start-up released photos of the 1:9 scale model on December 3 and said that flights should begin during January in Italy.

The company’s engineering team will use test data to finalize the design for the full-scale aircraft, which will carry up to 19 passengers and also be available for applications including cargo and medical evacuation. In June, Jekta announced that it had started flight testing another sub-scale model at an undisclosed location.

“The 1:9 scale model is large enough to provide data representative of the full-size aircraft and is allowing us to efficiently expand the test envelope while verifying data already collected in our computer modelling,” said Jekta co-founder and CEO George Alafinov. “We will continue to refine the aircraft configuration based on findings from the model testing and feed back into our digital models, ensuring the aircraft’s maturity as we work towards introducing it to the global air transport network in 2030.”

The model includes a sub-scale electric powerplant based on eight electric motors. It also incorporates the PHA-ZE 100’s aerodynamic configuration, as well as its cockpit layout and cabin windows.

According to Jekta, which started the program in 2022, it has signed agreements covering prospective aircraft sales worth more than $1.35 billion. It aims to be ready to produce the first full-scale prototype at its headquarters in Payerne in 2028 or 2029. Jekta aims to certify the PHA-ZE 100 under Part 23 rules.

At the Dubai Airshow in November, Jekta said that it views the Middle East as a prime market for its seaplane. The company also announced a partnership with U.S.-based Innovate Aerosystems, which will provide its Liberty Integrated Flight Deck for the PHA-ZE 100.