Page 19 - AAA March / April 2023 Latest Magazine | GBP

developed by Collins Aerospace with a highly efficient Pratt & The programme aims to deliver innovative
Whitney fuel-burning engine, which has been specially adapted solutions for sustainable aviation, with devel-
for hybrid-electric operation. This powerplant technology will opment of lighter and more efficient motors,
reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by up to 30 per cent as electronics, and materials that would help
compared to today’s most advanced regional turboprop aircraft. reduce emission levels and improve fuel effi-
The hybrid-electric powerplant will provide more efficient engine ciency. These technologies will be tested for
performance during the different phases of flight, such as take- future use in smaller, regional aircraft with less
off, climb and cruise. than 100 passengers, as well as single-aisle
commercial airliners designed for around 180

GE Aerospace passengers and operating longer-distance
GE Aerospace is working with NASA on the latter’s, Electrified flights. NASA aims to conduct at least two
flight demonstrations by 2027 to and help
Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) programme to advance transition these technologies into commercial
electrification of aircraft and engine systems, which seeks to products within the 2030 to 2035 timeframe.
introduce electrified aircraft propulsion technologies to U.S. com-
mercial short-range and regional aviation markets during the Over the course of the US$260 million
next decade. programme with NASA, GE will mature a
megawatt class hybrid electric powertrain to
demonstrate flight readiness for single-aisle
© NASA aircraft. A modified Saab 340B aircraft will
be used as testbed powered by GE’s CT7-9B
turboprop engines. GE has partnered with
Boeing, to support the programme’s flight
tests with BAE Systems being selected to
design, test and supply energy manage-
ment components. NASA and GE tested the
megawatt-class, multi-kilovolt hybrid electric
propulsion system in July 2022, at NASA’s
Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT), located at
the agency’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility
in Sandusky, Ohio. Flight tests are planned to
commence in the mid-2020s.

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