Rolls-Royce powers up electric aircraft ahead of world record attempt

Rolls-Royce has completed the first taxiing of its Spirit of Innovation aircraft ahead of its first flight and an attempt to break the world record for the fastest electric airplane later this year. The airplane travelled along a runway driven by its 500hp (400kw) electric powertrain for the first time last month. Taxiing is a critical test of the integration of the aircraft’s propulsion system, ahead of flight testing.