NASA and GE Aerospace have completed a public flight demonstration of a megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system designed to inform the development of more fuel-efficient aircraft. The system was installed on a Saab 340B aircraft and flown during the Farnborough International Air Show in the United Kingdom.
The demonstration followed a series of test flights in which the aircraft became the first hybrid-electric-powered aircraft to fly above 30,000 feet. NASA said the milestone demonstrates that electrified propulsion technologies can operate at altitudes relevant to regional and commercial aviation.
The propulsion system combines electric motors, a gas turbine and energy storage capabilities. It was designed to demonstrate enough power for an aircraft comparable in size to a regional jet while reducing fuel consumption and operating costs without sacrificing performance.
Hybrid-electric propulsion uses electrical power to supplement or work alongside a conventional turbine engine. The approach could reduce the amount of fuel required during certain stages of flight while maintaining the range and power needed by larger passenger and cargo aircraft.
NASA and GE Aerospace developed the technology through years of collaborative research, ground testing and flight evaluation. The work drew on NASA’s former Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project and its ongoing Subsonic Vehicle Technologies and Tools project.
NASA began preliminary research into hybrid aviation systems more than 15 years ago, when electrified propulsion for larger aircraft remained a difficult engineering challenge. The agency spent approximately seven years studying technical barriers and the potential commercial viability of these systems.
Research focused on improving power density, thermal management, battery technology and the integration of electrical systems with engines and aircraft. Large commercial aircraft require significantly more power than smaller electric aircraft and drones, making weight, heat and system reliability major development considerations.
Through NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration program, researchers worked with GE Aerospace to create lighter and more efficient electrical components. The teams also reduced the size of key systems so they could be integrated into an aircraft without creating impractical weight or space requirements.
In 2022, GE Aerospace tested an integrated version of the propulsion system at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The facility allowed researchers to simulate conditions at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet, where commercial single-aisle aircraft commonly operate.
The development team later integrated electric motors, power converters, propellers and a GE Aerospace commercial engine. Additional ground testing was followed by flight tests intended to validate the performance and coordination of the complete propulsion system.
NASA expects the research to support future hybrid-electric aircraft designs capable of lowering airline fuel and operating expenses. The technology could also help aircraft manufacturers reduce energy use while preserving the performance characteristics expected from conventional regional and commercial planes.
The project involved hundreds of researchers and engineers from NASA centers, GE Aerospace and partner companies. NASA’s current support for the work is being provided through the Aeronautics Division of its Research and Technology Mission Directorate.
KEY QUOTES:
“This achievement reflects what NASA does best in aeronautics: we explore bold possibilities, validate them through rigorous research and testing, and work with industry to turn breakthrough ideas into technologies that bring real value for the American people.”
Laurie Grindle, Director of the Aeronautics Division within NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate
“This is the culmination of more than 15 years of work, and we did that because it’s going to have an impact for aircraft that will help reduce energy use and help U.S. companies and the public. It’s about having a vision that no one believes can happen and then doing the work to define and execute the research and development needed to make it happen.”
“I’ve got to say, I was pretty touched seeing it fly. It was just awesome. It’s just like a regular plane, which is probably the best thing of all.”
Ralph Jansen, Aerospace Engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center
