Session Category: Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS)

 ASCEND Main Results and Perspectives
Cooling at cryogenic temperature conventional electric components and using high temperature superconducting technologies are promising to significantly increase performance of electric propulsion systems especially with liquid hydrogen on board. With ASCEND (Advanced Superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental powertraiN Demonstrator), AIRBUS UpNext intends to demonstrate the feasibility and the potential of a cryogenic and superconducting powertrain to breakthrough aircraft electric propulsion. Since 2021, six main components have been developed and are currently being tested: a superconducting DC distribution with protection, a cryogenic power electronics, a superconducting AC cable, a superconducting motor, a cryo-cooling system, and a powertrain monitoring and control. These components are currently being integrated and tested in a specific test bench in Airbus Ottobrunn, Germany.

The results and tests will support a decision-making process for the type of propulsion system for future aircraft. This talk will be focused on the progress of the project by presenting the different components of the demonstrator and the first test results.

Beyond Battery-Range: How Does Electric Propulsion Change How We Travel?
The aviation industry has connected the globe at an incredibly affordable cost. However, we have not been able to effectively serve short-haul routes <300 miles, where slow-moving ground transport dominates >95% of trips. With electric propulsion, we have the opportunity to change that. Using a hybrid-electric, blown-lift design, Electra’s hybrid eSTOL operates from very small spaces independent of traditional runway infrastructure, without sacrificing on payload and range. The energy required to transport one passenger over one mile is significantly lower than for an aircraft employing vertical lift; a key consideration in a future where the transportation industry is under pressure to reduce emissions. Electra will reveal its 2-seat technology demonstrator, which will showcase this technology at scale. Electra’s product aircraft is designed for 9 passengers. While small aircraft currently present only a lesser fraction of aviation’s emissions, building and certifying aircraft that integrate aerodynamic and propulsive effects, such as Electra’s eSTOL, at Part 23 scale, might just help us pave the way to larger, lower emissions transport aircraft in the future.