A partnership between Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), Collins Aerospace and the University of Nottingham has won grant funding of more than £1 million from the UK Aerospace Research and Technology Programme to develop electric propulsion technologies using the Airlander 10 airship as a platform
The project, named E-HAV1, will deliver a full-sized prototype 500kW electric propulsor for ground testing and technologies ready for future production that will be directly applicable to Airlander 10, with the aim of replacing its fuel-burning forward engines as the first step towards an all-electric version of the craft.
“This collaboration demonstrates the commitment all three organisations have to the future of sustainable aviation,” says HAV’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen McGlennan.
“Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the biggest challenges facing aviation today. While Airlander 10 is already helping customers ‘rethink the skies’ with incredible efficiency, we have to find ways of further reducing the impact we have on our environment.
“This project will move us closer to our goal of zero-carbon aviation.”
