The Raytheon Technologies system combines an extremely effective Pratt & Whitney fuel-burning engine made specifically for hybrid-electric operation with a 1 MW electric motor created by Collins Aerospace.
Raytheon Technologies announced the successful first engine run of the company’s regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator, marking an important step toward flight testing, which is scheduled to begin in 2024. At the Pratt & Whitney innovation centre in Longueuil, Quebec, the propulsion system underwent its initial test, and it passed with flying colours.
The system combines an extremely effective Pratt & Whitney fuel-burning engine made specifically for hybrid-electric operation with a 1 MW electric motor created by Collins Aerospace. In comparison to the most technologically advanced regional turboprop aircraft currently available, this engine technology will enable more efficient engine performance during various flight phases such as takeoff, climb, and cruise, reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions by up to 30%.
“Hybrid-electric propulsion technology offers significant potential to optimize efficiency across a range of different aircraft applications, helping our industry meet its ambitious goal for achieving net zero CO2 emissions,” said Jean Thomassin, executive director new products and services, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “With our ground test program now well underway, planned flight testing will enable us to accelerate the demonstration of this next generation sustainable propulsion technology as we continue to expand our collaboration within Canada’s aerospace ecosystem and beyond,” he further added.
The De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 aircraft will be modified and operated by the Flight Test Centre of Excellence (Cert Center Canada – 3C), acting as the platform for upcoming flight demonstrations.
“We are honoured that Raytheon Technologies has chosen our Design Approval Organization to lead the flight test program for this historic demonstrator project,” said John Maris, 3C president and chief test pilot for the project, Cert Center Canada. “3C has assembled a trusted Quebec team that includes Chrono Aviation, WAAS Aerospace, and Elisen & associés to integrate the hybrid-electric powertrain, battery system, and high voltage electrical harness into 3C’s Dash 8 research aircraft. I am confident that 3C’s extensive flight test experience and historical relationship with Transport Canada will complement Raytheon Technologies’ outstanding team to safely demonstrate this important technological advance,” he further added.
In July 2021, Raytheon Technologies, with support from the governments of Canada and Quebec, launched the demonstrator project through its Pratt & Whitney Canada and Collins Aerospace businesses. Since then, a large number of organisations both domestically and abroad have joined the initiative.
Battery systems will be provided by H55 S.A., which recently received a minority investment from RTX Ventures, the venture capital arm of Raytheon Technologies. The National Research Council of Canada and the Innovative Vehicle Institute will both provide funding for the design of battery component parts and related electrical control systems. Additionally assisting with testing, system integration, and component design is Ricardo PLC. The propulsion system integration on the experimental aircraft is supported by De Havilland Canada.
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Leading the development of hybrid-electric propulsion technologies for a variety of potential future aircraft applications are Raytheon Technologies’ demonstrator programmes STEP-Tech and SWITCH. The company continuously improves the effectiveness of aircraft propulsion systems while also creating technologies to support increased use of cleaner, alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), both of which will gain from the higher efficiencies made possible by hybrid-electric propulsion technology.
