An electric-powered aircraft has taken a series of test flights in Scotland.

According to an article on BBC News, the plane, which has been devised by American startup company Ampaire, is a retrofitted Cessna Skymaster. For the benefit of cleaner flying, one of the plane’s twin engines has been substituted for an electrical motor, which is powered by a rechargeable battery.

Ampaire believe that the aircraft could be the springboard for greener technology to be incorporated into short-haul flights.

“It [the aircraft] will fly cleaner, be more efficient and more economical. It will start as a short-haul but eventually, as the technology’s improving, it could go into medium to long-haul,” said Susan Ying from Ampaire.

It’s first test flight above open water saw the aircraft take a 37-mile (60km) journey from Orkney to Wick, taking off from Kirkwall Airport.

“It’s the only hybrid-electric airplane that I know of flying today,” said Justin Gillen, who test piloted the aircraft.

“As the airplane is approaching, you hear the propeller which is a kind of blade-through-air sound and then you hear the throatier sound of the engine. With our electric engine, you hear the propeller but that’s pretty much it.”

In the future, the site is set to host flights for planes that are powered by other environmentally friendly sources such as hydrogen.