In today’s automotive industry, the automakers of the world have been rallying to deliver customers with eco-friendly engine options. In this case, hybrid petrol-electric engines often become the favorite. To tell the truth, this technology in particular has actually been around at the streets for no less than a decade long. With that being said, perhaps it is time that the technology is applied in the aerospace industry as well. Thankfully, there is now actually an aircraft that makes use of the hybrid technology.
Developed by the British University of Cambridge, this particular aircraft is the very first hybrid aircraft in the world ever to take off to the sky. This aircraft is a lightweight aircraft that is capable of carrying only one passenger on it, the pilot. In order to move and fly, the aircraft makes use of a 4-cylinder engine from Honda, paired with an electric generator or motor. Quite interestingly, the propeller for the aircraft can receive power either from each of the electric motors or from the entire system. According to Dr. Paul Robertson, the chief of the engineering department at the University of Cambridge, England, how the propeller receives its power will depend on the circumstances at the given time.
He also gives an example that when the aircraft is trying to take off to the sky, its propeller will receive power from both the electric motor and the conventional engine. This is to make sure that there is enough power to pull the aircraft up into the sky. Then, once it is airborne, it is enough to use the electric motor alone. This is called the ‘generator mode’ and the system will recharge the plane’s battery.
The aircraft seems to be quite a success. It can fly at a height of more than 457 meters above ground level. And, judging by the test results obtained, the hybrid system proves to be more efficient by some 30% when compared to the traditional combustion engine. After its first flight test, the aircraft will still undergo further tests in order to get its powertrain optimized.
