Regional Express (Rex) has taken a 20% stake in Dovetail Electric Aviation, cementing the strategic partnership between the two Australian aviation businesses.

This equity participation agreement comes on the heels of the successful completion of initial ground tests involving Dovetail’s small-scale Electric Propulsion System (EPS), marking a major milestone in the company’s mission to convert turbine-powered aircraft to electric, emission-free propulsion.

It said this partnership with Rex not only validates Dovetail’s innovative technology but also provides a strong foundation for the company’s continued growth and development, adding that Rex’s appointment of one of its Board members to sit on the Board of Dovetail further solidifies the collaboration.

Dovetail’s recent AUS$3 million grant from the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects programme will be instrumental in facilitating the development of electric propulsion systems for aircraft used on regional routes operated by Rex and other regional airlines.