MagniX and GE reveal paint schemes for NASA EFPD project

MagniX and GE Aerospace have revealed the liveries of the hybrid-electric aircraft they will fly as part of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EFPD) project.

Each industry partnership looks to integrate electric propulsion systems into flight demonstrators, as well as help with overall design, modification, and flight tests of the aircraft. The project’s goal is to speed the transition to hybrid propulsion systems with megawatt levels of power to short-haul turboprop aircraft carrying 30-70 pax and regional commercial airliners carrying up to 180 pax.

For its demonstration, magniX is partnering with aircraft certification tester, AeroTEC and Canadian regional carrier, Air Tindi to test its hybrid powertrain installed on a modified DeHavilland “Dash 7” aircraft. The flight test campaigns will be based out of AeroTEC’s flight test centre in Moses Lake, Washington.

In a statement on LinkedIn, magniX said: “NASA’s EPFD project aims at conducting ground and flight tests of electrified aircraft propulsion systems to enable a new generation of hybrid electric commercial aircraft.”

GE Aerospace is developing a megawatt-class hybrid electric powertrain for testing towards the middle of this decade. Aurora Flight Sciences, along with parent firm Boeing, are partnering with GE to support the flight tests using a modified Saab 340B aircraft. The campaigns will be based out of Aurora’s facilities.

NASA is targeting at least two flight demonstrations within the next five years to help introduce electric propulsions systems to the US commercial fleet within the 2030-2035 timeframe.