Get ready for quieter skies — the future of flight training is electric.

That’s according to officials from H55, a Swiss-based aerospace company that made a special appearance in Arapahoe County on Wednesday to showcase the B23 Energic, a two-seat all-electric training aircraft that promises to deliver more options to the aviation industry.

Centennial Airport officials welcomed the sleek white and whisper-quiet flying machine as part of the aircraft’s eight-stop “Across America” tour, designed to give aviation professionals, flight schools, and advocates a firsthand look at what’s next for pilot training and regional flight.

“Hosting the B23 Energic aligns perfectly with Centennial Airport’s vision to lead the way in sustainable general aviation, and to support innovative technologies that help move our industry toward quieter skies and a cleaner future,” said the airport’s Executive Director Mike Fronapfel. “As one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports, we’re committed to working with stakeholders across the aviation community to explore and implement meaningful sustainability initiatives.”

The first certified electric training aircraft of its kind, the B23 Energic’s proprietary electric propulsion and battery systems can yield up to 70 minutes of flight time.

The aircraft comes at a unique time and experts said it will be a “game-changer” for both student pilots and flight schools.

The average age of most piston-powered training aircraft is more than 30 years old, H55 co-founder Gregory Blatt said.

“Companies, flight schools and aero clubs are spending a tremendous amount of money on engine rehauls and things like that,” Blatt said. “Just the economics made sense to start thinking about alternative forms of flight training.”

The aircraft’s two-seat configuration supports both a student pilot and instructor.

A typical Cessna 172, waiting 30 minutes in line to take off, can burn more than two gallons of fuel.

“Our wait time is 25 cents of electricity,” Blatt said.

For residents near the airport, the promise of quieter skies in the future is a plus.

“I can say firsthand that the aircraft is quiet and smooth and dexterous and nimble and absolutely a joy to fly,” said Jessica Campbell, the District 2 Arapahoe County Commissioner and chair pro-tem of the airport authority board. “And as the commissioner of the district that has the No. 1 amount of noise complaints from our flight training activities, I felt no guilt at all.”

In past years, Centennial Airport has had a strained relationship with local residents over increased training flights, aircraft noise and allegations of airborne lead pollution, prompting airport officials to explore alternatives.

In May of 2023, Centennial became the state’s first airport to offer unleaded fuel, ahead of a U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) ruling that emissions from aircraft that operate on leaded fuel may contribute to air pollution.

Last summer, the Colorado legislature passed House Bill 24-1235, which aims to mitigate the impacts of aviation on communities and encourage the transition to unleaded aviation fuel, as well as the reduction of aircraft noise.

Campbell reiterated the airport’s commitment to “sustainable” aviation and noted that conversations with Xcel Energy are already underway to discuss the next steps for installing electric charging stations on the premises.

“That’s something we are very excited about and want to lean into,” Campbell added.

Centennial Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the nation, with more than 300,000 takeoffs and landings each year. It is home to several flight schools and aviation-related businesses.

According to the 2025 Economic Impact Study of Colorado Airports, Centennial Airport supports 9,236 jobs, produces more than $769 million in annual payroll, and generates $2.4 billion in total economic impact.