Writer

Charlotte Bailey

Deliveries of the Bristell B23 Energic are due to start by early next year, with the all-electric aircraft in the final stages of EASA CS-23 type certification, according to the manufacturer. Over 100 orders have been placed for the two-seat trainer to date, which will feature Safran’s dual-channel <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-02-04/easa-certifies-safrans-125-kilowatt-engineus-100-electric">EngineUs</a> electric motor as part of H55’s proprietary propulsion system. 
The B23 Energic – first unveiled in April 2024 as an electric variant of the thermally-powered Bristell B23 – is a collaboration between Czech manufacturer BRM Aero and Swiss electric propulsion specialist H55. During a press conference on April 23 at April’s Aero Friedrichshafen show, H55 explained that the EngineUs motor is currently being integrated into an airframe, with aircraft-level certification expected late this year or early in 2027. 
In December 2025, H55 also became the first company in Europe to complete the requisite EASA thermal runaway testing for its energy storage system. “What makes that very different is that we did it on a cellular level,” H55 co-founder Gregory Blatt told&nbsp;AIN. With H55 expecting a ‘no technical objections’ formality from EASA in about a month, “this has allowed us to commercialize the product,” he stated. Each aircraft will feature 86 battery packs containing 26 lithium-ion cells per pack, offering a maximum takeoff power of about 90 kW.
Depending on usage, batteries are expected to last around 1,500 hours, by which time incremental improvement should lengthen their successors’ capabilities. According to Blatt, this creates an additional value proposition. The customer fuelling the aircraft “isn’t investing in the oil industry. We’re investing in our own technology, which has an impact on the depreciation and the value of the airplane,” he suggested. 
<h2>B23 Energic to Enter Service</h2>
With EASA certification efforts complemented by ongoing campaigns with the FAA and Transport Canada, an initial 100 or so orders are split evenly between U.S. and Europe, explained Blatt. Flight schools are the main market, which – according to Blatt – can benefit from an enhanced in-cockpit experience. This includes a simpler start-up process, less vibration, and a quieter teaching environment. &nbsp;
Externally, the Energic’s reduced noise profile is also of increasing importance to training providers close to highly-populated areas. One U.S. flight school bought five units “for that reason alone,” confirmed Blatt, who added that last summer’s tour of a prototype aircraft across 25 U.S. airports and eight states was also met with a “very receptive” market. The Rotax-powered B23 received FAA type certification in September 2025, building on the first European deliveries of the thermal-engined variant in 2021. 
H55 was founded on the legacy of its 2017 <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2015-03-11/solar-impulse-logs-first-legs-round-world-flight">Solar Impulse</a> project, which made the first all-electric round-the-world flight with a 17-leg journey in 2017. This experimental aircraft few over 2,500 electric flight hours, totalling over 50,000 kilometers. Describing the venture as a “eureka moment,” Blatt explained the project was vital to gain insight into a mixture of proprietary and open-source knowledge. “What we really understand is energy management,” he suggested, although cautioned industry peers to be realistic about existing technology. “I invite everyone working on batteries to be honest with the industry,” he concluded. 
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

All-Electric Bristell B23 Energic Selects Safran EngineUs Motor 

Deliveries of all-electric trainer to start by early 2027

Deliveries of the Bristell B23 Energic are due to start by early next year, with the electric aircraft in the final stages of EASA CS-23 type certification. 

Bristell B23 Energic Selects Safran EngineUs Electric Motor 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Electric aircraft developer has now raised almost $400 million 

Aura Aero Secures €50 million in Series B Funding Round

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Testing showed promising results for reducing time to deployment

Airbus Firefighting System Networks Variety of Vehicles

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

UK's Project Sonata is working towards a demonstration

Electric Drives Could Cut Carbon From Airliner Taxiing

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

Passenger levy had been due to start for flights booked from April 1

Singapore Delays SAF Levy Due to Jet-A Price Spike

Amy Wilder

Program evaluates flight departments on environmental responsibility efforts

4Air To Support NBAA Sustainability Accreditation

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Report highlights lack of transparency and consistency in SAF requirements 

European Airlines Demand Changes to ReFuelEU Rules

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Partners aim to integrate more effective sensors on aircraft to measure contrail formation

Honeywell and Boeing Seek Improved Contrail Assessments

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

European Spotlight with Aero Friedrichshafen 2026

In this article

H55

More In Sustainability and Environment