Eviation test pilot Steve Crane wins Iven C. Kincheloe Award

Eviation test pilot Steve Crane has won the Iven C. Kincheloe Award for Alice’s first flight. 

Awarded by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), the trophy recognises outstanding accomplishment by a pilot in conducting a test flight. 

The nine-seater Alice flew for eight minutes at an altitude of 3,500ft on 27 September last year in the US. Built from a clean-sheet design, the aircraft is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units developed by magniX.

“Receiving the Kincheloe was a wonderful honour and recognition for the amazing accomplishment that our Eviation team achieved with the successful first flight of Alice,” said Crane. “We set the bar for commercial electric aviation that others will be measured against. It’s tremendously important that we keep moving that bar forward. Now is the time to continue the journey of making electric aviation the wave of the future. I’m so very humbled to be a part of this team and look forward to what we’ll do together in the years to come.”

Crane received the award at the 67th Annual Awards Banquet in Anaheim, California last week. He joins a long list of aerospace legends to have won the award, including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

In a statement, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots said: “Steve worked directly with two flight test engineers, a small cadre of design engineers, and business leadership to maintain steady progress towards a safe first flight. Steve’s contribution to the aircraft program was invaluable, and ultimately culminated in his flawless first flight of the Alice, representing a major milestone for electric aviation and the future of air mobility.”