Wright Electric and Axter Aerospace have successfully completed the maiden flights of their hybrid-electric crop duster aircraft, which has 800 kW of combined shaft horsepower. Wright also announced that its electric propulsion unit has achieved 1.2 megawatts (MW) of peak shaft horsepower and 1.1 MW continuous power output.
The hybrid-electric crop duster aircraft is the result of a collaborative effort between Wright Electric and its Spanish partner, Axter Aerospace.
"The successful maiden flight of our hybrid-electric crop duster aircraft marks a significant step forward in our mission to transform the aviation industry,” said Jeff Engler, CEO of Wright Electric. “We are excited about the possibilities that this technology presents and are grateful for our partnership with CT Axter Aerospace, which has been instrumental in making this project a reality."
Miguel Suarez, CEO of Axter Aerospace, added: "Our collaboration with Wright Electric signifies our commitment to pioneering environmentally responsible solutions in agricultural aviation. The hybrid-electric crop duster aircraft is a testament to our shared vision of creating cleaner, more sustainable alternatives for the future of agricultural operations. Together, we're redefining what's possible in the industry."
Jane Ashton, Director of Sustainability at easyJet, said that the aircraft was a “monumental move for the agricultural sector” adding that successes such as these were “important for the aviation industry as a whole as we continue our work to develop and deploy a suite of technology solutions to decarbonise“.