Curt Epstein

Ampaire maintains that connecting islands in regions such as the Caribbean is an ideal application for hybrid-electric aircraft such as its Eco Caravan conversion of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop. At the Caribavia conference in St. Maarten this week, the U.S. company provided case studies with local airlines to demonstrate how fuel burn could be significantly reduced.

Electric aircraft manufacturer Bye Aerospace reports that the backlog for its eFlyer 800 twin-motor airplane has grown to include 135 purchase deposits and option agreements. The company is targetting 2027 for type certification and service entry, with a prototype expected to start flight tests in 2024.

Concerns over type certification complexity as well as input from prospective customers were behind Eviation's decision to move the propellers of its all-electric Alice aircraft from the wingtips to the tail. The company, which is targeting passenger and freight applications for the all-electric aircraft from 2024, says the new configuration will result in greater stability and enhanced fly-by-wire performance, while also delivering more power from its larger propellers.

Rolls-Royce will partner with Purdue University and the university's research foundation to expand its hybrid-electric engine research and development capabilities. The work at the Purdue Aerospace Technology Center will focus on high-altitude and hybrid-electric powerplants for the U.S. military.

Joby Aviation has launched an alliance with parking facility operator Reef Technology and real estate acquisition company Neighborhood Property Group and develop a network of so-called skyports to use as operating bases for its planned eVTOL air taxi services from 2024.

UK-based Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has unveiled cabin concept designs for its under-development Airlander 10 passenger airship. The company is raising funds to prepare the hybrid-electric aircraft for service entry in 2025, with an all-electric version to follow in 2030. It says the airship's low environmental footprint and ability to operate in city centers make it a viable alternative to airline services.

Speaking at the recent Vertical Flight Society Electric VTOL Symposium, Airflow CEO Marc Ausmus described the runway needs of his proposed hybrid-electric aircraft as being 150 feet of ground roll with an overall requirement of 300 feet in length, roughly three times the length of the currently proscribed touchdown-and-liftoff (TLOF) area plus safety zone, for a helipad.

With the successful conclusion of a month-long route test and reliability program in Hawaii for its five-seat, hybrid-electric powered EEL, a retrofit of the Cessna 337 Skymaster, Los Angeles-based Ampaire is moving ahead with its next projects, which include models called the Eco Otter SX and the Tailwind.

While some hybrid-electric aircraft systems under development use an engine connected to a generator through a gearbox of some sort, Turbotech has developed a compact all-in-one unit that uses a microturbine, a generator, and a heat exchanger, all on the same shaft. It spins at 9,000 rpm providing a high power-to-weight ratio.

Otto Aviation is working to bring a new six-seat, piston-powered fixed-wing aircraft called the Celera 500L into service in 2025. But now it's announced plans for an alternative electric- or hydrogen-powered version.