en.Wedoany.com Reported - GE Aerospace has successfully demonstrated that its hybrid electric aircraft can climb to altitudes exceeding 30,000 feet, approaching the typical cruising altitude of commercial airliners.

The hybrid electric engine system combines an electric powertrain with a conventional gas turbine, aiming to enhance power efficiency during different phases of flight. Electric aircraft still face unique challenges before commercialization, with the greatest technical obstacle being the significant difference in energy density between jet fuel and batteries, as heavy batteries reduce range and passenger payload. The hybrid power system bridges the gap between traditional heavy jet aircraft and current battery limitations by combining the high energy density of liquid fuel with the instant torque and efficiency of electric motors.

A team from GE Aerospace modified a Saab 340B, installing the hybrid engine system in an inverted nacelle to facilitate additional ventilation. The engineering and test teams addressed issues such as thermal management, low atmospheric pressure, and power density using airworthy components that meet higher safety and reliability requirements. During flight tests, the electric powertrain successfully drove the propeller and generated power for the battery. In a single flight, the team not only achieved an altitude exceeding 30,000 feet (matching commercial airliners) but also completed a flight duration of over two hours.

Henry Lawrence Culp, Jr., CEO of GE Aerospace, stated that the aviation industry's first high-altitude hybrid electric flight will be recorded in history, and thanked NASA, BETA Technologies, and Boeing for their collaboration in accelerating hybrid electric technology to meet customer demands for greater efficiency, durability, and range. Pilots from GE Aerospace and BETA Technologies supported the flight tests conducted in the United States.

Kyle Clark, CEO of BETA Technologies, said that this hybrid electric system improves high-altitude performance and climb capability while creating a flight laboratory to inform all future hybrid designs. GE Aerospace brought rigorous design, testing, and operational expertise, and the ground and safe flight test activities, along with flights across the North Atlantic, represent the first of many significant milestones for hybrid electric technology.