Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Bye Aerospace is a step closer to the first flight of its electric <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-06-17/bye-aerospace-reveals-electric-airplane-suppliers">eFlyer 2</a> training airplane, having received a special airworthiness certificate from the FAA. Special airworthiness certificates are issued to enable flight testing of aircraft before they qualify for a standard airworthiness certificate. The Bye Aerospace certificate was issued under the experimental category, designated for research and development and also used for amateur-built, exhibition, and racing aircraft.
The FAA inspection for issuance of the certificate took place at Centennial Airport (KAPA) near Denver and included a review of the “eFlyer 2’s airframe, electric propulsion system, instruments, and other functional systems to confirm the aircraft’s safety for operation,” according to the company.
The test airplane’s airframe was completed in July, with materials supplied by Toray Composite Materials America, the empennage manufactured by Flying S, and the rest of the airframe built by Composite Approach. The eFlyer 2 will be powered by Safran Electrical &amp; Power’s EngineUs 100B1 electric motor coupled with a Sensenich propeller and MagniX USA battery modules. Testing of the propulsion system was done using a truck-mounted test rig. “Since then, engineers and technicians have been conducting final aircraft systems integration, further electrical system validation, and operational ground testing before beginning the flight test program,” according to Bye Aerospace.
“Every major milestone in an aircraft program is earned, and this one is the result of intense effort and dedication from a talented team that is passionate about what we do,” said Bye Aerospace CEO Rod Zastrow. “We’ve worked hand-in-hand with the FAA since 2016 to help advance the certification framework for electric aircraft. In just a year, we’ve built and tested this game-changing all-electric aircraft, and receiving the special airworthiness certificate is an important validation of that work. We look forward to beginning flight testing and continuing our progress toward certification.”
Once the first flight is achieved, Bye Aerospace will launch the flight test program to expand the eFlyer 2’s operating envelope.
Bye Aerospace holds more than 1,000 orders for the two-seat eFlyer 2 and four-seat eFlyer 4, with buyers including Spartan College of Aeronautics &amp; Technology, Skyborne Academy, Flex Air Flight School, and KLM Academy.

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