On June 18th, Delfast embarked on an unusual experiment to test the power potential of one of their electric bike models, the Top 1.0. The mission? To attempt pulling a Yak-18T aircraft weighing 1.7 tons (or 3,400 pounds) across the runway at Kyiv Chaika Airfield.

Although the trial didn't meet expectations, it turned out to be highly beneficial for the team. The Delfast TOP 1.0 is primarily designed for long-distance commuting, so its performance under such extreme conditions wasn't anticipated to be ideal. This insight explained why the initial results were less than satisfactory.

Interestingly, it was discovered that the motor had sufficient power to move the aircraft. However, the safety shutdown system was triggered before any movement could occur. As Daniel Tonkopiy, CEO of Delfast, noted: "I'm satisfied. We've achieved both positive and negative outcomes. Positively, the e-bike can indeed pull the aircraft, even uphill. Negatively, it couldn't budge the plane. The electronics shut off the engine at startup. Our aim now is to identify and bypass this safety lock so we can return to Chaika Airfield and try again. Maybe next time we'll manage to move something even larger, like a Boeing."

This experiment has opened up exciting new possibilities for Delfast. Exploring these kinds of challenges may lead us to develop entirely new models tailored to various industries, from delivery personnel to farmers handling loads exceeding 1 ton (or 2,000 pounds).

The aviation community showed great interest in the experiment, expressing enthusiasm about incorporating such innovative vehicles into professional settings.

For those who missed it, here's the link to the full video: