GKN Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to develop the High Voltage High Power EWIS for the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project.
GKN Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to develop the High Voltage High Power Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) for the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project. The joint effort will focus on the design, construction, and installation of the electrical wiring system for the demonstrator aircraft, which aims to achieve a remarkable 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions compared to today’s most advanced regional turboprop aircraft.
The hybrid-electric propulsion system of the demonstrator integrates a highly efficient Pratt & Whitney fuel-burning engine with a 1-megawatt electric motor developed by Collins Aerospace, both of which are business units of Raytheon Technologies (RTX). This hybrid-electric system is designed to optimize engine performance during various flight phases, including take-off, climb, and cruise.
John Pritchard, President Civil Airframe, GKN Aerospace said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Pratt & Whitney Canada on this hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program. This project extends our teamwork in hybrid-electric propulsion technology, which also encompasses the SWITCH project, backed by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking of the European Union. Pushing the boundaries of technology aligns perfectly with our mission to become the most trusted and sustainable partner in the sky. Companies like Pratt & Whitney will deliver the solutions that enable passengers to travel more sustainably and help achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
GKN Aerospace, based in the Netherlands, will lead the development and design of the High Voltage High Power EWIS for the hybrid-electric propulsion system. Following the design phase, GKN Aerospace will take on the responsibility of manufacturing the necessary hardware and installing it on the demonstrator aircraft.
Jean Thomassin, Executive Director new products and services, Pratt & Whitney Canada said, “Hybrid-electric propulsion technology has the potential to improve efficiency for a wide range of future aircraft applications, supporting the industry-wide goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions for aviation by 2050. Our collaboration with GKN Aerospace brings extensive expertise to the project, which will help integrate high voltage electrical systems on our experimental aircraft, as we target flight testing to begin in 2024.”
GKN Aerospace is recognized globally as a leader in engine systems and EWIS (Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems) solutions for aircraft. The company’s advanced electrical distribution systems are used in a significant number of passenger planes and military aircraft today. GKN Aerospace’s EWIS center of excellence in the Netherlands is supported by teams located worldwide, including in Montreal, Canada, where the hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project is based.
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In conclusion, the collaboration between GKN Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada on the hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project underscores the industry’s commitment to advancing sustainable aviation technology. This project aims to significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, contributing to the aviation industry’s goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
