2020: Airbus is to fly "electric engine" BAe146/ARJ-100 jet.

[Stratofreighter]

...see
https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... -x-testbed
for a picture..

10.12.2018 - 16:50 UTC

Airbus has acquired its first ARJ-100 following the purchase of an ex-Cello Aviation (CLJ, Birmingham Int'l) machine, G-ILLR (msn E3379).

the 18-year-old quadjet was re-registered as G-WEFX ahead of its ferry flight to Cranfield where it will be used as a hybrid electric-drive test-vehicle from 2020.

Airbus is working on the hybrid vehicle to help the aviation industry meet the goals set out in the Flightpath 2050 Vision for Aviation, which aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and noise levels.

To that end, the European manufacturer intends to use battery and fuel cell technology to replace one of four gas turbines on the ARJ-100 flying testbed with a 2 MW E-Fan X electric motor which will be developed in tandem with Rolls-Royce and Siemens.

"By the end of 2020, we aim to start flight testing and one year after that, we hope the E-Fan X can make its first public flights," E-Fan X project lead Olivier Maillard said in a statement.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... -x-testbed