FutureFlight Logo
USER MENU
The Future of Advanced Air Mobility
Faradair's Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft

Faradair is developing the Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA) a multi-role, fixed-wing aircraft that it hopes will be ready to enter service in 2026. The aircraft design features "triple box" wing and a rear-ducted fan. The program timeline calls for an all-electric version of the BEHA to be ready by 2030. The initial hybrid model will be able to run on sustainable aviation fuel.

As of September 2020, the UK company was in the latter stages of deciding the final configuration and composition of the initial hybrid propulsion system. It aims to have the design finalized by the end of the second quarter of 2021 and to then start building a full-scale prototype, with a view to achieving a first flight in early 2024. In the same month, it moved into the new Avtech aerospace park at Duxford airfield in eastern England, where a new building is being developed to accommodate its manufacturing facility. 

In December 2020, Faradair announced the following four companies as risk-sharing partners: Honeywell (turbogenerators, avionics, and flight controls); MagniX (electric motors); Cambridge Consultants (propulsion system architecture); and Nova Systems (prototype development and certification).

Faradair's business model calls for it to build a portfolio of 300 BEHA aircraft that it will own and operate itself. The aircraft are expected to be used in a variety of applications, including passenger transportation, logistics and fire fighting.

The company, which was founded in 2014, has been working to complete a new funding round during the course of 2021. This year has seen it add to its group of partners through an agreement with Dunlop Aircraft Tyres. It has also strengthened its management team with former Boeing marketing vice president Randy Tinseth and former EasyJet executive Tony Anderson joining its advisory board.

Timeline

Projected

first delivery

Faradair aims for the all-electric version of its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft to be ready to enter service by the end of 2030.

Projected

first delivery

Faradair aims to have its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft certified and ready to enter service by the end of 2026.

Projected

test flight

Faradair aims to have started test flights with a full-scale prototype of the Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft by "early" in 2024.

Missed Projection

investment

Faradair aims to complete a new funding round by the end of the second quarter of 2021, at which point it also aims to have finalized the design of its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft.

Outlook

Our objective assessment of this program’s probable success.

FutureFlight assesses the probability of success for a new aircraft program by considering the following criteria:

  • Total investment funds available in proportion to the anticipated cost of getting an aircraft certified and in service
  • A company’s in-house capability (in terms of numbers of engineers, technical staff, and customer support teams)
  • The past experience of the company and its senior leadership in developing aircraft
  • The caliber and past experience of key program partners
  • Whether key aircraft systems have been selected and are available for use
  • Whether the preliminary design review has been completed
  • Whether the design for the full-scale prototype has been completed
  • Whether the type certification process has been formally initiated with an appropriate regulator
  • Whether the company has achieved a first flight with a full-scale prototype
  • The number of hours logged in a flight test program
  • Whether type certification has been achieved
  • The number of orders and commitment received for the aircraft
  • Whether the company has adequate facilities to begin series production of the aircraft
Our Methodology

On its own admission, Faradair has struggled to gain momentum with its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft program on which it has been working since 2014. After almost abandoning its UK base to move operations to the U.S., it secured a permanent home at Duxford airfield's new Avtech aerospace park. This appears to have reinvigorated the company as it seeks to finalize the design and start work on a full-scale prototype. A significant new boost came from the December 2020 announcement that Honeywell, MagniX, Cambridge Consultants, and Nova Systems have signed up as risk-sharing partners.

The completion of a new funding round will be critical in determining the pace at which work be accelerated towards projected initial service entry in 2026. 

Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft Models

M1AT Specifications

autonomous stol Fixed Wing
Imperial/Metric

Performance

  • Passenger Capacity
    n/a
  • Range
    n/a
  • Cruise Speed
    n/a
  • Powerplant Type
    ducted fan
  • Power Source
    hybrid_fe
  • Endurance
    n/a
  • Max Altitude
    n/a
  • Takeoff Distance
    n/a
  • Landing Distance
    n/a
  • Empty Weight
    n/a
  • MGTOW
    n/a
  • Payload Weight
    n/a

Dimensions

  • Length
    n/a
  • Width
    n/a
  • Height
    n/a
  • Wingspan
    n/a

The M1AT is the unmanned version of Faradair's Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft. The company envisages a variety of military applications for the variant. 

As of September 2020, the specifications and performance details for the UAV had yet to be determined. Faradair has yet to resolve whether it will be the same size as the M1H passenger aircraft or perhaps a much smaller version based on a 50 percent scaled prototype.

Key Personnel

Neil Cloughley
Neil Cloughley

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Related Content