GKN Aerospace has signed an agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada to collaborate on the development of the high-voltage electrical power system for the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project. The agreement covers the development, construction and installation of the demonstrator’s electrical wiring system, which targets a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and a reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the most advanced regional turboprop aircraft in the world. ‘Today.
GKN Aerospace and P&W Canada together…
GKN Aerospace has signed an agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada to collaborate on the development of the high-voltage electrical power system for the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator project. The agreement covers the development, construction and installation of the demonstrator’s electrical wiring system, which targets a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and a reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the most advanced regional turboprop aircraft in the world. ‘Today.
…For the EWIS of the RTX hybrid-electric flight demonstrator
The demonstrator’s hybrid-electric propulsion system incorporates a Pratt & Whitney turboprop and a 1-megawatt electric motor developed by Collins Aerospace. The hybrid-electric system will improve engine performance during different phases of flight, such as takeoff, climb and cruise. Both Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace are business units of RTX. GKN Aerospace in the Netherlands will spearhead the development and design of the high voltage, high power EWIS (Electrical Wiring InterConnect System) for the hybrid-electric propulsion system.
In addition to the SWITCH project
At the end of the design phase, GKN Aerospace will be responsible for manufacturing the necessary hardware and installing it on the demonstration aircraft. This project expands GKN’s teamwork in the field of hybrid-electric propulsion technology, which also encompasses the SWITCH project, supported by Clean Aviation of the European Union. “Our collaboration with GKN Aerospace brings great expertise to the project, which will help integrate high-voltage electrical systems on our experimental aircraft, as we aim to begin flight testing in 2024,” said Jean Thomassin, Executive Director, New products and services, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
