With the implementation of drones years ago, aerial vehicles are becoming more common and they are making a dent in society with increasing force. However, several companies and companies are going one step further and are already developing futuristic manned aerial vehicles for the near future.
Hybrid and electric vehicle brand Electra has signed a contract with the United States Air Force to develop electric and hybrid propulsion systems for electric aircraft that have an ultrashort takeoff and landing system . The objective of this contract is to improve the country’s defensive capabilities in addition to shortening the time to market for advanced commercial aviation technologies.
An efficient vehicle
Electra’s Director of Technology and Innovation, Ben Marchionna, believes these futuristic low-carbon systems will be the solution to several defense-related gaps, while leveraging potential commercial solutions on the market.
This Electra aircraft has a hybrid and electric propulsion system and requires only 45 meters to initiate the lift boost and take off. It could also offer mid-distance logistics services and even act as an air ambulance.
This type of aircraft is a mix between a drone and a traditional cargo plane. Although Electra’s aircraft requires a runway to take off and land, it offers almost three times the payload capacity , greater range, and operates at less than half the operating cost.
The importance of hybrid-electric
The technology that this vehicle uses to propel itself through the air is known as “blown lift” and it causes the aircraft’s electric motor-driven propellers to blow air over the wings, making takeoffs possible at very high speeds. short , like less than 50 kilometers per hour. It can also reach a speed of up to 320 kilometers per hour in mid-flight. The aircraft will be able to carry up to seven passengers and a pilot.
A turbogenerator will be in charge of giving life to the eight electric motors and all the integrated batteries of the ship during the flight. The propulsion system offers up to 150 kilowatts of electrical power and has other systems such as gas turbines, gearbox, generator, rectifier and software. In addition, its technology does not produce noise.
The company has stated that it wants to conduct ground tests this year before starting aerial tests in 2022. The official launch is expected to be in 2026.
