More than 117 years after Seattle residents first witnessed a flying machine in the sky, a distinctive aircraft over the city can still capture attention.
That occurred this week with the arrival of Beta Technologies’ all-electric ALIA CX300 conventional takeoff and landing aircraft as it landed at King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field.
Photographer Steve Rice documented the unusual-looking airplane with a rear propeller and shared images on Reddit, where aviation enthusiasts initiated discussions about electric planes, range, charging times, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and related topics.
Vermont-based Beta wasn’t simply conducting a flyby. The company transported the plane to Seattle for an official demonstration of the ALIA in an event that attracted state officials, aviation experts, and industry leaders from across Washington.
In a news release Tuesday, Beta stated Washington has a “deep-rooted aviation heritage that has long positioned the state as a global leader in aerospace innovation and manufacturing.” The company added that the state is now “actively advancing the future of flight through strategic investments in sustainable aviation and the critical infrastructure needed to support next-generation technologies.”
Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark characterized the event at Boeing Field as “a step toward realizing a future where electric aviation is accessible, reliable, and benefits local communities.”
Founded in 2017, Beta is constructing two electric aircraft, the fixed-wing ALIA CTOL and the ALIA VTOL, a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, at a production facility in Vermont.
The inaugural flight of Beta’s first production model airplane occurred last November. The ALIA CTOL has a range of 336 nautical miles, and Beta’s planes are designed to carry passengers or cargo.
The company has also developed and is deploying a network of charging infrastructure for use across airports and the electric aviation ecosystem.
Beta filed for an initial public offering earlier this month with plans to sell 25 million shares at $27 to $33 each, a price range that could value the company at $7.2 billion.
Vancouver, British Columbia-based Helijet International previously placed orders with Beta for a fleet of eVTOL aircraft.
Other electric and hybrid aircraft makers are advancing their planes in Washington, including Seattle-based Aero-TEC and Everett-based magniX. Arlington-based Eviation Aircraft paused work on its Alice airplane earlier this year.
The 117-year historical reference connecting contemporary electric aviation to Seattle’s aviation origins creates narrative continuity from the city’s earliest flying machine sightings through Boeing’s jet age dominance to the emerging electric aircraft era.
The ALIA CX300’s rear propeller configuration generating Reddit aviation community debate demonstrates the unconventional design choices electric propulsion enables, with the pusher propeller arrangement differing from traditional tractor configurations common in fossil fuel aircraft.
Steve Rice’s photography capturing public imagination illustrates how novel aircraft designs still generate excitement despite Seattle’s familiarity with aviation technology, with the electric plane’s distinctive appearance differentiating it from conventional aircraft regularly seen at Boeing Field.
The Reddit discussion topics including range, charging times, and vertical takeoff capabilities reflecting the technical challenges facing electric aviation adoption, with enthusiasts analyzing whether current battery technology and charging infrastructure can support practical commercial operations.
Beta Technologies’ Vermont headquarters location creating cross-country demonstration mission validates the ALIA CX300’s 336 nautical mile range claim, with the Seattle flight presumably requiring multiple charging stops demonstrating both the aircraft’s capabilities and the emerging charging network’s viability.
The state officials, aviation experts, and industry leaders attendance at Boeing Field indicates Washington’s strategic interest in electric aviation, with the demonstration serving dual purposes of showcasing Beta’s technology while positioning the state as a hub for sustainable aviation development.
Beta’s statement about Washington’s “deep-rooted aviation heritage” acknowledging the state’s Boeing-anchored aerospace industry, with the company seeking to align itself with the region’s century-long aviation leadership while pivoting toward electric propulsion representing the next technological frontier.
The reference to Washington “actively advancing the future of flight through strategic investments” likely referencing state incentives, infrastructure funding, or regulatory support encouraging electric aviation development, with policymakers viewing the sector as economic diversification opportunity beyond traditional Boeing-centric aerospace.
Kyle Clark’s characterization of electric aviation as “accessible, reliable, and benefits local communities” articulating the industry’s promise beyond environmental benefits, with accessibility referring to potential operating cost reductions making air travel cheaper and community benefits including reduced noise pollution from electric motors.
The 2017 founding date positioning Beta as relative newcomer compared to Boeing’s century-plus history, with the seven-year timeline from startup to production aircraft demonstrating accelerated development enabled by leveraging existing electric propulsion technology from automotive and other industries.
The dual aircraft strategy developing both conventional takeoff ALIA CTOL and vertical takeoff ALIA VTOL variants addressing different market segments, with fixed-wing models serving longer-range regional routes while eVTOL aircraft targeting urban air mobility and short-distance applications.
The Vermont production facility location rather than aerospace cluster areas like Seattle or Southern California reflecting either cost considerations, state incentive packages, or founder preferences, with the unconventional location potentially creating supply chain challenges accessing aviation industry suppliers.
The November inaugural production flight occurring less than a year before the Seattle demonstration indicates rapid progression from first flight to marketing tour, with Beta’s aggressive timeline suggesting either confidence in aircraft certification or pressure from investors and customers to demonstrate commercial viability.
The 336 nautical mile range (approximately 387 statute miles) representing current electric aviation limitations compared to fossil fuel aircraft flying thousands of miles, with the restricted range confining electric planes to regional routes until battery technology advances enable longer flights.
The passenger or cargo flexibility positioning Beta’s aircraft for both Part 135 charter operations carrying paying passengers and logistics applications moving time-sensitive freight, with the dual-use capability expanding potential market opportunities beyond single-purpose designs.
The charging infrastructure network development recognizing that aircraft alone cannot enable electric aviation transition, with the ecosystem requiring widespread fast-charging stations at airports similar to automotive industry’s EV charging buildout.
The initial public offering filing seeking $27-$33 per share targeting $7.2 billion valuation demonstrates investor appetite for electric aviation despite unproven commercial viability, with the capital raise providing funds for production scaling, certification completion, and charging network expansion.
The Helijet International fleet order from Vancouver representing Beta’s first announced customer commitment, with the Canadian operator presumably planning to deploy eVTOL aircraft for helicopter replacement serving routes between Vancouver, Victoria, and other British Columbia coastal destinations.
The Seattle-based Aero-TEC, Everett-based magniX, and Arlington-based Eviation mentions establishing Washington as electric aviation cluster, with multiple companies pursuing different technical approaches suggesting the state could emerge as industry center similar to its Boeing-era aerospace dominance.
The Eviation Alice program pause earlier this year indicating not all electric aviation ventures succeed, with the setback demonstrating technical, financial, or market challenges that threaten startups even in states with strong aviation ecosystems and supportive policies.
