Electric Air Racing Sparks Technological Innovations in the Realm of Aviation Powered by Electrification
The world's first all-electric airplane competition, Air Race E, is set to take flight in 2023, marking a significant step towards mainstreaming innovation in electric propulsion for aircraft. This exciting development is being backed by Airbus, a global leader in aerospace technology.
Electric and hybrid-electric technologies have already revolutionised mobility on the ground, and now, Airbus is bringing this revolution to the skies. The Air Race E aircraft, a modified Cassutt IIIM, recently made history with its first-ever flight by an all-electric race plane, piloted by Rein Inge Hoff. During the flight, the aircraft reached a full-power cruise of 180 knots (333 km/h).
Airbus is providing the 17 teams in Air Race E with research data and industry expertise, helping to guide the aerospace industry onto a sustainable path for future generations. According to Air Race E CEO Jeff Zaltman, the competition is seen as the best flying testbed to reach Airbus' ambition to pioneer aerospace decarbonisation and assess the first potential.
Lessons learned from Air Race E, such as battery integration, system engineering, techno-bricks performance, and safety, could serve Airbus solutions. Some of the insights gained from the competition and lessons learned from making fly propulsive electrical systems will be key assets for Airbus in its mission to develop, build, and test alternative-propulsion systems for aircraft, helicopters, satellites, and future Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles.
Airbus's role in advancing electric aviation goes beyond Air Race E. The company's innovation subsidiary, Airbus UpNext, is accelerating the development and testing of future aviation technologies, including electric and autonomous flight systems. Airbus UpNext functions as a high-velocity innovation engine, developing technologies faster than traditional R&D cycles.
The synergies between Air Race E flight testbeds and Airbus programs like eVTOLs and micro-hybridisation projects are evident. Making fly technologies from the automotive market, like motors, batteries, and converters, is an approach Airbus supports to cross-fertilize ideas, technologies, and roadmaps from different markets.
Moreover, Airbus UpNext is addressing key barriers such as certification, safety, and operational integration, which are crucial for the maturation and adoption of electric aviation. This indirect but crucial role supports competitions like Air Race E by advancing the all-electric aircraft technology landscape overall.
As the teams in Air Race E spend the coming weeks and months rigorously testing their aircraft on the ground and in the air, the future of electric aviation is taking shape. With Airbus leading the charge, we can expect to see electric aircraft reaching speeds of more than 400 km/h in future flights, paving the way for a more sustainable and innovative aerospace industry.
[1] Airbus (2021). Airbus UpNext. Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/innovation/airbus-upnext.html [4] Airbus (2020). E-Fan X. Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/innovation/projects/e-fan-x.html
Science and technology are being integrated into sports via the Air Race E competition, where teams are striving to develop electric aircraft. Airbus's involvement in Air Race E is aiding research and innovation in electric aviation, with potential applications in sports, aircraft, helicopters, satellites, and future Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles. The company's Airbus UpNext subsidiary is dedicated to accelerating the development and testing of future aviation technologies, including electric and autonomous flight systems, which could revolutionize the aerospace industry.
