LYTE Aviation partners with Lange Aviation and Cranfield University

LYTE Aviation sets its sights on prototype building, forging new partnerships with Lange Aviation and Cranfield University.

Although details surrounding construction timeline and initial test campaigns have not been published yet, it is understood the team at Lange will bring their sustainable flight expertise to the prototype development process. The OEM has produced a flying test bed for fuel cell technology, aka Antares DLR-H2, in collaboration with German Aerospace Center (DLR) which first flew on fuel-cell power alone back in 2009. Lange has also developed other a second generation of Antares which is due to fly for the first time this year. 

“Our innovative approach for our hybrid-hydrogen approach for our 40 seater eVTOL requires great pioneer minds and experts that realise with us a quick and certifiable prototype,” says Freshta Farzam, CEO and and founder at LYTE. “We see Lange Aviation and their CEO Axel Lange as a great value add-on to our technology. Our partnership focuses on hybridisation and certification of our hybrid-hydrogen power output for our prototype.”

Due to the use of proven and existing technologies available today, LYTE Aviation is estimating commercial market entry within five to six years.

Cranfield University has raised over £25m to build two new centres for doctoral training (CDT) with a focus on advancing water security and net zero aviation. The university is also part of a third new centre, led by Loughborough University, focusing on advancing hydrogen technologies. The funding is part of the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills, totalling more than £1bn and creating 65 new Centres for Doctoral Training.

“Simultaneously, we are supporting Cranfield University’s successfully approved EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Aviation programme,” added Farzam. “Their vision is in complete alignment with ours: ‘Create Future Leaders that will lead Decarbonisation of Aviation & will deliver UK’s Government Jet Zero & ATI’s Destination Zero Strategies. The Centre will establish the UK as an international hub for technology, innovation and education for Net Zero Aviation, attracting foreign and domestic investment as well as strengthening the position of existing UK companies.’ Strategic collaboration and sharing knowledge will provide a much faster realisation of our visions, for all parties involved.”

Panos Laskaridis, Professor of Hybrid Electric Propulsion in the Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering, who will lead the new centre said: “Over the next decade innovative solutions are urgently needed to decarbonise aviation. The knowledge, methods and tools developed by this new centre’s graduates will help to develop the technologies needed to drive real change in the aviation industry.”