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4w ago

GE Aerospace Demonstrates First Hybrid‑Electric Flight Above 30,000 Feet

A public test of a megawatt‑class hybrid propulsion package built with NASA and industry partners could reduce fuel burn for future single‑aisle jets if remaining engineering and certification hurdles are cleared.

Modified Saab 340B during hybrid-electric flight testing.
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Overview

  • GE Aerospace flew a modified Saab 340B in hybrid‑electric mode above 30,000 feet, a public milestone announced at the Farnborough Airshow on July 20 that followed months of quieter test flights and transatlantic ferry legs.
  • The propulsion system is a megawatt‑class, multi‑kilovolt hybrid package developed under NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration program with BETA Technologies, Boeing/Aurora and suppliers supplying batteries, gearboxes, propellers and a CT7 engine.
  • During testing the hybrid system powered the propeller and recharged batteries, with the single longest hybrid segment lasting more than two hours and the aircraft operating in hybrid mode on legs of its ferry to the UK.
  • Engineers say key high‑altitude challenges — heat management, reduced air pressure, power density, weight and flight‑qualified electrical hardware — were addressed for the demo but require more work, testing and certification before commercial use.
  • The flight feeds into CFM/RISE and NASA technology roadmaps that target fuel‑burn improvements for future single‑aisle engines and will be followed by daily Farnborough demonstrations as teams continue scaling and integration work.