Dovetail Electric Aviation, an Australian-Spanish aerospace technology company developing electric and hybrid-electric propulsion solutions, has signed a launch customer agreement with Ludens Aviation AS, a Norwegian aviation company connected to the skydiving and aircraft leasing sector, for the first Dovetail-converted electric Cessna Caravan.
Under the agreement, Ludens Aviation becomes the launch customer and operator for Dovetail's first electric Caravan conversion, with a customer commitment deposit payable by Ludens, marking the first binding commercial commitment for Dovetail's electric aircraft retrofit programme.
The agreement establishes a pathway for Ludens to acquire and operate the aircraft following completion of the retrofit programme and issuance of the relevant EASA Supplemental Type Certificate. It also provides a framework for the aircraft to support conversion, testing and pre-certification activities as Dovetail advances towards first flight and certification.
The Cessna Caravan is Dovetail's first retrofit platform and a key aircraft type in its strategy to decarbonise short-haul aviation. Widely used for regional transport, cargo, island hopping, scenic flights and skydiving operations, the Caravan is considered well suited to electric conversion due to its short-cycle mission profile, strong installed base and operational versatility.
Dovetail's conversion solution is built around two proprietary technologies: DovePack, its aviation battery system, and DovePower, its integrated electric propulsion system, designed to replace conventional turboprop propulsion and enable quieter, lower-emission, lower-operating-cost operations.
Dovetail CEO David Doral said the agreement marked a significant turning point for the company.
"This is a major commercial milestone for Dovetail, representing a tipping point as our strong pipeline of LOI's starts turning into binding agreements, entering into a revenue generation phase," Doral said. "We are excited to find in Ludens not only a launch customer, but also a partner that will help us in bringing our technology to an operational state, promoting further adoption with their vision to deploy electric Caravans for skydiving."
Ludens Aviation CEO Kjetil Kriken said the agreement reflected a natural fit between electric aircraft and skydiving operations.
"Electric aircraft and skydiving are a perfect match: short cycles, fixed patterns above the same field, and a community that cares about noise and emissions," Kriken said. "With this agreement we are not just ordering an aircraft, we are building the operating model, the charging infrastructure and the financing template that will put electric Caravans to work commercially in Norway. We look forward to seeing the first one climb above Voss."
The agreement reinforces Norway's position as an early adopter market for sustainable aviation, with Dovetail reporting strong interest from Norwegian operators in mission profiles such as skydiving, scenic flights and regional island-hopping.
The parties will now progress airframe sourcing, technical planning, operational arrangements and certification-related activities as the aircraft moves through development, testing and certification ahead of commercial operations.