Diamond Aircraft & Siemens Complete Maiden Flight Of Multi-Engine Hybrid Electric Aircraft

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Austria-based Diamond Aircraft and Siemens AG recently completed the maiden flight of the multi-engine hybrid electric aircraft they’re jointly developing. A Siemens official bills the aircraft as the “first serial-hybrid electric plane in the world with two electrically powered free-stream propellers and one combustion engine.” (Photo courtesy of Diamond Aircraft.)

Diamond Aircraft and Siemens AG recently conducted the first flight of their jointly developed multi-engine hybrid electric aircraft. Dr. Frank Anton, Siemens AG executive vice president eAircraft, says the aircraft is the first serial-hybrid electric plane in the world with two electrically powered free-stream propellers and one combustion engine. Anton notes that a “distributed propulsion architecture opens entirely new possibilities for the design of highly efficient planes, and we have now proven its technical feasibility.”

Combatting Noise & Pollution

Diamond and Siemens note that addressing future anticipated air traffic growth with current technology will only increase emissions and reduce fossil fuel supplies. Thus, in 2013 they began innovating a hybrid powertrain that could provide “full electric take-off capabilities,” that omits the noise and pollution associated with a combustion engine.

Diamond reconfigured a DA40 aircraft to support the hybrid electric powertrain. The setup entails one combustion engine powering two independent electric propulsion systems, each with an electric motor, battery, inverter, and propeller. Combined, the motors produce 150 kilowatts takeoff power (about 201 horsepower). A diesel generator in the aircraft’s nose offers up to 110 kilowatts (about 147.5 horsepower). The batteries, meanwhile, reside in a rear passenger compartment and serve as an energy-storage buffer. Using a dedicated power lever, the pilot can select among pure electric (generator off), cruise (generator provides all power to the motor), or charge (generator charges the batteries) modes.

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During a recent 20-minute demonstration flight of the multi-engine hybrid electric aircraft, test pilot Ingmar Mayerbuch climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet while reaching 130 knots at medium power. (Photo courtesy of Diamond Aircraft.)

“Just Perfect”

In pure electric mode, the aircraft offers about 30 minutes of endurance. Turning the generator on pushes that to five hours, the companies state. Ingmar Mayerbuch, Diamond Aircraft head of flight testing, demonstrated all the operating modes during the 20-minute demonstration flight. “The combination of the hybrid powertrain and the configuration of the aircraft is just perfect,” he said. “We reached 130 knots at medium power output and climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet.” Among other things, future flight tests will test the different hybrid operation models to gauge their effectiveness in various areas.

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Source: Diamond Aircraft

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