Page 55 - World Airnews February Magazine Edition 2021

NEWS

MAGNIX MOVES

Washington as their initial manufacturing “Washington’s aerospace sector
location,” said Lisa Brown, director of the continues to attract some of the most
Snohomish County’s airspace is state department of commerce. innovative companies in the world,” Inslee
beginning to hum - ever so quietly - with Boeing’s massive assembly factory and said in a statement.
new electricity. the roar of jet-fuelled engines are just “magniX is moving the industry into the
Two aerospace companies, both working down the road. clean energy future, and we’re looking
to develop fully electric aircraft, have It’s a comforting backdrop for an forward to watching them succeed and
grow.”
moved in. aerospace company, but magniX is focused The new headquarters also puts magniX
The county could become the centre of on developing electric propulsion systems closer to its sister company, Eviation, which
aviation’s next electrifying advance. for shorter-range commuter flights of less recently opened a manufacturing facility in
magniX, which is building electric motors than 500 miles and small, commercial Arlington.
to power aircraft, has consolidated its aircraft that carry 10, 12 or 20 passengers. Both companies are subsidiaries of the
Redmond headquarters and a research That’s a potentially lucrative niche Clermont Group, a private investment firm
facility in Australia under one roof, a considering that 45% of all scheduled based in Singapore.
44,000-square-foot building near Paine commercial flights are 500 miles or less,
Field. according to OAG, an aviation and travel In Arlington, Eviation is developing an
The new Everett location on Seaway data firm. electric commuter airplane that can carry
Boulevard will serve as the company’s “We’re talking about a 225-mile flight nine passengers and two crew members,
with a target range of up 500 miles.
headquarters and as a facility for design, from Everett to Spokane, or a 250-mile Alice - that’s the model’s name - would be
engineering and manufacturing, said Roei flight from Seattle to Pullman,” said powered by three magniX electric motors
Ganzarski, CEO of magniX. Ganzarski, who often drives to Pullman to connected to a lithium battery pack,
In Arlington, Eviation is building a visit his daughter because spur-of-the-mo- according to the company’s website.
nine-passenger commuter airplane from ment scheduled flights can cost a bundle. magniX and Eviation fit neatly into the
scratch. It’s specifically designed around As for large passenger jets becoming green technology category.
magniX’s electric propulsion system. plug-ins, it will be decades before you’ll fly
The two companies are working together. a fully electric airplane from Seattle to New They are among a growing number of
Ganzarski is Eviation’s chairman of the York, Ganzarski said. firms, including a score of electric aircraft
developers, whose innovations could help
board. “It will be 30 or 40 years before that reduce the aviation industry’s carbon
“This is a very aero-centric county,” said happens.” footprint. The Environmental Protection
Ganzarski from inside the company’s new Agency reports that aviation is responsible
Everett headquarters, painted charcoal STATE INCENTIVE for 9% of transportation emissions in the
and red to match the company’s flying “m” magniX received (US) $350,000 from the United States and 3% of
logo. governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund to help the nation’s greenhouse
“Boeing is here, new college graduates with the move. gas production.
are here, our suppliers are here. This The incentive programme is competitive Reducing carbon
location gives us space to grow.” and can be used for workforce develop- emission is a worthy
magniX is investing (US) $2.8 million in ment, technical or planning assistance, or goal, but the company’s
the new location and plans to boost its relocation assistance. The governor has the number one priority is Turn to page 9
employee roster from 50 to 70. final say on the funds’ distribution. making a business case
“We are thrilled they have chosen Gov. Jay Inslee gave magniX the OK. for its products and

World Airnews | February Extra 2021
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