Aerospace

RTX advances hybrid-electric propulsion for Dash 8 Testing

RTX has completed a crucial milestone in its hybrid-electric flight demonstrator programme, successfully completing a rated power test of the demonstrator’s 1 megawatt (MW) electric motor built by Collins Aerospace.

The 1MW motor will be connected to a highly efficient thermal engine built by Pratt & Whitney as part of a hybrid-electric propulsion system that seeks to provide a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions over today’s most sophisticated regional turboprops. Collins and Pratt & Whitney are both RTX business units.

Collins unveils premium lie-flat business class suite for single-aisle aircraft(Opens in a new browser tab)

The 1MW motor will provide four times the power and twice the voltage, with half the heat loss and half the weight compared to Collins’ most cutting-edge electric motor generators now in flight. At Collins’ site in Solihull, England, the business is creating the motor, and the Institute for Aerospace Technology at the University of Nottingham is where it is being tested.

The propulsion system and batteries will be integrated on a Dash 8-100 experimental aircraft, with flight testing targeted to begin in 2024. The project is supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec.

Clean Aviation SWITCH Project to Advance Hybrid-Electric(Opens in a new browser tab)

The 1MW motor will also be a part of the Pratt & Whitney GTFTM hybrid-electric powertrain intended for the SWITCH project under the European Union’s Clean Aviation policy, in addition to the hybrid-electric flight demonstrator. The Grid, a $50 million electric power systems lab at Collins’ Rockford, Illinois, plant scheduled to open later this year, will host further testing.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.