Propulsion-electric

H2FLY expects hydrogen-electric regional aircraft to rely primarily on fuel cells within three to four years.

UK zero-emission flights; Sikorsky VTOL Nomad; autonomous freighters; and hybrid-power cargo eVTOL.

The UK’s Department for Transport has unveiled funding for eight projects to demo the viability of zero-emission flights using electric and hydrogen power.

Collins and Safran are testing electric powertrains for hybridized turbine engines.

GE Aerospace has flown its modified Saab 340B megawatt-class hybrid-electric testbed at 30,000 ft., representing a milestone for an electric propulsion system operating at standard commercial airline altitudes.

Airbus’ February 2025 announcement to delay plans to field a hydrogen-powered airliner sent shockwaves throughout its supply base.

Beta begins eIPP demonstrations, South Korea’s hybrid eVTOL plan, DJI first fixed-wing drone and Gulfstream explores SAF and contrails.

Vertical Aerospace says data from flights of its eVTOL prototype is validating expectations and paving the way for a smooth run through certification activity.

What is the optimal size for a battery-electric aircraft? It depends on who you ask.

Collaborative combat R66; NASA open-fan demo; quantum heads to the field; and Sora’s subscale eVTOL bus.

VoltAero founder Jean Botti was betting on a hybrid-electric layout for redundancy and quieter operations near airports, not for decarbonization.

Dutch startup Conscious Aerospace believes retrofitting existing regional aircraft offers the most practical path to bringing hydrogen-electric propulsion into commercial service.

Near-VTOL maritime stroke UAS; fully superconducting electric motor for aircraft; lithium-air battery advances.

Vaeridion advocates for full electric propulsion, contending that it offers a more manageable technical and regulatory path than hybrid-electric.

A U.S. startup has secured funding to begin scaling up a battery chemistry that promises to enable a three-four times improvement in drone performance.

Strathclyde demonstrates a 100-kW superconducting motor and works with Airbus to develop a megawatt-level prototype for future aircraft propulsion.

German aircraft manufacturer MD Aircraft is advancing development of a nine-passenger electric regional aircraft designed around swappable batteries.

Bye Aerospace is entering the final stages of preparation for the first flight of its eFlyer 2 all-electric training aircraft.

Three aircraft developers reveal different approaches to battery-electric flight from trainers to regional transports.

Public charter operator JSX helped demo Electra’s hybrid-electric ultra short and might buy Electra’s EL9.

Vaeridion reports battery suppliers exceeding performance targets for electric aircraft, boosting Microliner development prospects.

For its nine-seat, all-electric Microliner, Vaeridion has successfully completed the preliminary design review.

The Helios Horizon stratospheric electric aircraft has flown powered by solid-state batteries, believed to be the first piloted flight using the fast-charging, energy-dense battery tech.

Hybrid-electric regional aircraft developer Heart Aerospace has begun taxi tests of its full-scale piloted flight demonstrator, the X1.

Honda eVTOL flies; helping to avoid contrails; bio-based carbon fiber advances; Korea’s engine independence bid; and Airbus’ Canadian tech hub.