Hybrid aircraft flew at cruise altitude

GE Aerospace, in collaboration with NASA and other partners, conducted the first flight of a hybrid-electric aircraft at an altitude of over 9000 meters.

This flight was an important milestone in the development of electric aviation, as previously high-voltage power systems for engines were only tested in barochambers.

The test platform was a modified twin-engine turboprop aircraft Saab 340B, on which a megawatt-class hybrid engine was installed.

During the tests, the duration of the longest continuous flight with the working hybrid system exceeded two hours.

Developers believe that this technology can be used to create future hybrid powertrains for regional and narrow-body aircraft.

Source: 3DNews