LONDON -- Two pilots in two separate electric planes have crossed the Channel between England and France, each claiming to be the first.
Airbus successfully sent its prototype, the two-seater E-Fan, from Kent to Calais Friday morning, while another French pilot pipped them to the post by flying his own e-plane from Calais to the English coast and back again on Thursday night.
The Airbus plane was flown by pilot Didier Esteyne and completed the 74 kilometre (46 mile) journey in less than 40 minutes, according to the manufacturer, who said that it was the first twin-engine electric plane taking off by its own power to negotiate the English Channel.
#eFan is in the air! http://t.co/61NQMgQDTj #wemakeitfly #makinghistory #channelcrossing pic.twitter.com/m7JwTyffoD— Airbus Group (@AirbusGroup) July 10, 2015
Here is the #eFan over #Calais... #wemakeitfly http://t.co/61NQMgQDTj pic.twitter.com/ecZkuErIJw— Airbus Group (@AirbusGroup) July 10, 2015
We did it! The #eFan has landed at #Calais Airport! http://t.co/61NQMgQDTj #wemakeitfly #makinghistory pic.twitter.com/JcBhqylMdG— Airbus Group (@AirbusGroup) July 10, 2015
"When the Future meets the Legend" http://t.co/61NQMgQDTj #wemakeitfly pic.twitter.com/wFuKD3SvnO— Airbus Group (@AirbusGroup) July 10, 2015
The plane, which was powered by lithium-ion batteries and weighs around 600 kilogrammes, travelled at an altitude of about 1000 metres (3500 feet). It had already made over 100 test flights.
The night before the Airbus flight, however, Hugues Duval flew from the French port of Calais to the English shoreline and back Thursday on a two-engine, one-seat Cricri plane.
Duval told The Associated Press that his successful flight was a "relief" and an "important moment" after years of developing the plane and flying it over land.
Vol historique ; traversée de la Manche avec un avion 100% électrique : Hugues Duval l'a fait, @ParisMatch était là. pic.twitter.com/utRmzEiMdX— Solène Leroux (@solenelll) July 9, 2015
Airbus dismissed the rival attempt. "We are not worried, it would not count," they said, according to Sky News.
The Airbus crossing comes just under 100 years after another French pilot, Louis Bleriot, became the first person to fly any kind of plane across the English Channel. His transportation was narrower, slower and lighter.
Several companies in different countries are trying to develop electric planes in hopes of offering a fuel-free and emissions-free flight alternative for the future.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press