EcoPulse, the hybrid-electric distributed propulsion aircraft demonstrator jointly developed by Daher,
After passing successfully the first ground tests, the demonstrator will perform its first flight with hybrid-electric propulsion later this year.
This demonstrator - supported by CORAC (the
Based on a Daher TBM aircraft platform, EcoPulse is equipped with six integrated electric thrusters or e-Propellers (supplied by
Since the announcement of this collaboration between Daher, Airbus and
'After endurance ground test campaign for the e-Propellers, the first hybrid-electric flight with the six e-Propellers activated will be an important milestone for our technology roadmap as
'Hybridization and electrification are key to the aerospace sector's decarbonization journey. With EcoPulse, we learned a lot from developing the high-power battery pack entirely, from the monitoring system to the thermal runaway and short-circuit tests. Some of these key learnings are already applied in several of our demonstrators with the common ambition to lower emissions. We are now all eager to see this technology flying and continue to progress on our electrification roadmap,' said
'The demonstrator has so far amassed around 27 hours of flight time with the electric propellers feathered. Flight tests of the hybrid-electric powertrain are due to begin later this summer. We are going to learn a lot. From this demonstration program, we plan to develop our future product roadmap and basically spec the hybrid aircraft we intend to produce by the end of our five-year plan. We expect by the end of 2027 to be able to offer our first hybrid aircraft to the market,' said
These latest steps further paved the way for the demonstrator's first appearance in public at the Paris Air Show and for subsequent flights powered by electricity, later this year.
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