Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest, she has returned to the Knoxville area.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Bye Aerospace has flown its two-seat eFlyer 2 electric trainer airplane for the first time, the Colorado-based company announced today. The inaugural flight took place at Denver-area Centennial Airport (KAPA) on September 17, about a week after Bye announced it had received a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2026-09-09/faa-grants-special-airworthiness-certificate-eflyer">special airworthiness certificate</a> from the FAA.&nbsp;
Chief test pilot Elliot Seguin took off at about 9:45 a.m. local time and flew for roughly five minutes, according to publicly available flight tracking data. The test airplane, registered N400EF, climbed north of the field and landed after a single left-hand circuit. It reached a peak altitude of 7,251 feet msl (roughly 1,370 feet above the 5,885-foot-msl airport) with a top groundspeed of 135 knots.&nbsp;
This sortie represented the first flight of two full-scale prototypes that Bye Aerospace intends to use for FAA type certification testing. A proof-of-concept demonstrator for the design, called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/bye-aerospace-sun-flyer-targets-charter-market">Sun Flyer</a>, first flew in 2018 and logged more than 100 flights.
“The first flight of eFlyer 2 exceeded all of our expectations in terms of aerodynamics, handling, propulsion, and overall performance, and there were no maintenance discrepancies during the flight,” Bye Aerospace president and CEO Rod Zastrow said in a company statement.
<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-07-31/bye-aerospace-prioritizes-eflyer-2-electric-trainer-over">At EAA AirVenture</a> in July 2025, Zastrow said a production-conforming prototype was on track to fly within nine to 12 months, followed by certification under FAA Part 23 about 24 months later. Earlier this year, he said the company had also begun <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-06-17/bye-aerospace-reveals-electric-airplane-suppliers">weighing certification under Part 22</a>, the FAA’s light-airplane rules. The company will choose between Part 23 and Part 22 certification based on flight test results, Zastrow told AIN. If Part 22 is the better fit, Bye aims to start production in 2027 and deliver its first airplane in the fourth quarter of 2027 or the first half of 2028.
The eFlyer 2 is powered by a Safran Electrical and Power EngineUs 100B1 motor, which holds EASA certification and is undergoing FAA validation, along with MagniX battery modules, a Sensenich propeller, and Garmin G500 TXi avionics. Composite Approach built the airframe, and Toray Composite Materials America supplied the composite materials.
Bye Aerospace reported an order book of 1,124 eFlyer 2s and four-seat eFlyer 4s in June, when it announced <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-06-17/bye-aerospace-reveals-electric-airplane-suppliers">supplier selections for the eFlyer 2</a>, with about 40% backed by nonrefundable deposits and the rest by letters of intent. According to Bye, half of its orders have come from international customers. The company claims the eFlyer series will cut operating costs by up to 80% compared with a Cessna 172.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Airplane Makes First Flight

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

Bye Aerospace flew its two-seat eFlyer 2 electric trainer airplane from Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Denver on September 17.

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Charles Alcock

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon 

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Kerry Lynch

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.

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Charlotte Bailey

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades 

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

In this article

Bye Aerospace

More In Aircraft

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

Trump administration says $24.3 billion deal will bolster Saudi Arabia's self-defense capability

Boeing Freighter Saga Raises Doubts Over Radia’s WindRunner

U.S. start-up sees commercial and military use cases for its clean-sheet cargo lifter design

AircraftPost To Host ‘Behind the Deal’ Session during NBAA-BACE

Panel will dissect a Gulfstream G650 transaction from four different perspectives

Lockheed Martin Rolls Out First German F-35A Fighter

First fighter due to arrive in-country in late 2027

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN