On March 20, these parties conducted the first public test taxi run at Kempen Airport with an all’electric Cessna 150.
Clearwings originated as a spin-off from the student team Falcon Electric Aviation and was co-founded by Kshitij Dadhekar, who remains actively involved with the team and Kyle Strickland. The company is developing technology to convert conventional aircraft to electric propulsion-removing the traditional engine and replacing it with an electric motor. This retrofitting process is carried out in collaboration with Falcon, whose members contribute to technical development and play a key role in testing.
Electric taxiing with the Cessna is an important and necessary step toward certifying the retrofit solution. Through this milestone, Clearwings and Falcon aim to pave the way for an emissions-free aviation sector. Tech company NXP is lead sponsor of Falcon and supplies systems for energy-efficient network communication, accurate battery management and safe switching of high-voltage systems, as well as microcontrollers with built-in error detection for reliable operation.
Second life for existing aircraft
In the Netherlands, ninety percent of registered aircraft are smaller models like the Cessna 150, primarily used for flight training. Clearwings’ retrofitting approach provides a sustainable and cost-effective way to modernize this fleet. This extends the lifespan of existing aircraft, while accelerating the transition to emission-free flying."This method allows for a much faster shift toward sustainable aviation compared to designing and building entirely new aircraft," said Clearwings co-founder and Falcon member Kshitij Dadhekar. "Although the latter is certainly an option as well, converting the existing fleet first is a great opportunity to make these aircraft viable for years to come."
Self-installable package
Converting an aircraft requires a retrofit package that includes an electric motor, batteries, control display, and all necessary wiring. The total weight is comparable to a conventional engine, but without greenhouse gas emissions and nearly silent operation. Aviation maintenance engineers can install the package themselves using a provided manual and certification information allowing retrofitting to be performed on-site. Therefore, a retrofitting kit can be shipped to any maintenance hangar in the world and planes can be converted to electric.According to Maarten Steinbuch , professor in Systems and Control, retrofitting existing aircraft is an important first step toward the electrification of aviation. "This is also how it started in the automotive industry. It takes a lot of time to design and certify completely new aircraft, this way we can start flying cleaner and quieter much faster. I expect a lot of development in this area in the coming ten years, starting with small aircraft and then larger ones."
Clearwings aims to conduct an electric test flight from Kempen Airport in December 2025. If successful, together with Falcon, the company plans to scale up the technology to larger aircraft carrying up to 20 passengers-ideal for regional flights up to 500 kilometers, flight training, and business travel.
The electric taxiing test with the modified Cessna took place on Thursday, March 20, at Kempen Airport near the town of Budel. During the event, the team presented the latest developments, gave visitors a tour of the workshop, and demonstrated the difference in noise between an electric and a conventional aircraft.
