A pioneering electric aircraft seeking to save lives in remote parts of Africa and Asia has taken its maiden flight at a Norfolk airfield.

Old Buckenham-based firm NUNCATS is developing the "electric sky jeep", to provide cheap and sustainable transport to deliver doctors, teachers and medical supplies to isolated rural communities across the world.

The light aircraft, based on a Zenith CH750, successfully took to the skies at Old Buckenham Airfield, near Attleborough, after three years of construction work.

The petrol engine and fuel tanks have been replaced with an electric engine with batteries.

Now the social enterprise behind the aviation project aims to work with charities and other organisations to set up a network of solar-powered charging stations on buildings in remote towns and villages so the aircraft can fly its life-saving missions.

The non-profit community interest company NUNCATS was founded in 2019 by Shipdham-based couple Tim and Helen Bridge, who partnered with the US Zenith Aircraft Company and several start-up investors.

Mr Bridge said the test flight is a "significant step forward".

Eastern Daily Press: NUNCATS founder Tim Bridge (left) with test pilot Captain Tim Kingsley of SaxonAir and the prototype 'electric sky jeep'NUNCATS founder Tim Bridge (left) with test pilot Captain Tim Kingsley of SaxonAir and the prototype 'electric sky jeep' (Image: NUNCATS)

“Nobody else is building electric aircraft in this way," he said. "Our aim is to provide a low-cost, rugged and practical aircraft for use in rural and hard-to-reach communities, such as medics in Uganda and doctors in rural India.

“We knew it would work, the aircraft is a reliable one, but it’s great to actually see it in action. Now we have done that our next stage is to find the money to fund another plane and replicate this so we can get this out into the testing environment and go from there.

“As soon as funding allows, we hope to move towards getting this into communities, where it can make a real difference.

"There are currently a billion people in the world with no access to healthcare, 20,000 people will die because of that just today. This can be a genuine life-saver.”

The test flight was piloted by captain Tim Kingsley of Norwich-based air charter company SaxonAir, which is backing the project.

He said "the vision is a really exciting one", adding: "There’s nothing like this anywhere else in the world.

“I’ve seen first-hand the challenges some of these communities face and harnessing natural energy in such a way could make a real difference to so many people’s lives.”

NUNCATS is still looking for project backers, and can be contacted via the firm's website or www.facebook.com/nuncats.