PARIS–French startup VoltAero sees its clean-sheet, five-seat Cassio 330 as an ideal way to introduce hybrid-electric propulsion—and eventually hydrogen—to regional aviation without requiring operators to change how they fly today.
VoltAero unveiled its first prototype Cassio 330 at the Paris Air Show June 18. The aircraft is planned to fly by year-end and the startup is aiming for certification in 2024. Follow-on six- and 12-seat versions are already in development.
The Cassio 330 is powered by a hybrid module that integrates an internal-combustion and an electric motor, both driving the single pusher propeller via a gearbox. The aircraft taxis, takes off, climbs and lands on quiet electric power and can fly up to 150 km (95 mi.) on batteries only. For ranges up to 1,200 km, and to recharge the batteries in flight, the combustion engine is used.
This integrated module will allow VoltAero to certify the Cassio as a single-engine aircraft, simplifying its adoption by customers, co-founder and CEO Jean Botti, a former Airbus chief technology officer, said.
VoltAero has selected Kawasaki Motors to supply the four-cylinder piston engine for the Cassio 330, based on the engine for the Kawasaki Nina H2R motorcycle. Safran is providing the electric motor, Electric Power Systems the battery, Duc Helice the propeller and Avidyne the cockpit avionics.
Kawasaki is developing a more-powerful six-cylinder version of the engine for the larger 12-seat Cassio. The Japanese engine maker is also modifying its engine to run on hydrogen. VoltAero plans to conduct flight tests of the hydrogen engine in 2024 in the first Cassio 330 prototype.
The zero-emission Cassio will be fueled with liquid hydrogen stored in a non-circular carbon-fiber tank, which Botti described as a breakthrough. VoltAero’s incremental approach to bringing new technology to the regional market in a clean-sheet aircraft will reduce cost and risks for both the company and the operators, Botti said.
