Hybrid Airplane Takes to the Skies

December 29, 2014 – An in-flight rechargeable experimental aircraft developed by University of Cambridge and Boeing researchers was successfully flown in the United Kingdom in the last week. The single-seat aircraft powered by a hybrid propulsion system included a gasoline-powered engine and electric motor and demonstrated 30% fuel savings when compared to conventional technology during flight.

The 4-stroke gasoline engine and electric motor are coupled together to spin the propeller. Both are engaged during takeoff and initial ascent. Once at cruising height of approximately 500 meters (1,500 feet), the electric motor begins recharging the airplanes 16 lithium-polymer batteries stored in the wings.

The airframe is a modified ultralight. So we are not talking about commercial passenger aircraft as of yet. That requires even more significant weight to energy performance improvements in batteries.

When asked about the potential of using hybrid-electric in future airplanes, the engineering team indicated that the aircraft they have created is a good test bed for demonstrating multiple-sources of powered flight. It requires much more research to make the technology leap to a commercial fleet of such airplanes.

Based on the current state of technology, modern commercial jet aircraft if flown using just battery power, would stay aloft for approximately ten minutes. So we have a long way to go before we can produce a viable electric-powered airplane. But a hybrid sounds far more doable and can provide a margin of safety beyond what is currently available in fossil-fuel powered aircraft whether prop or jet-based.

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