Page 40 - World Airnews Magazine April 2021

ELECTRIC

AN ALL ELECTRIC

PASSENGER AIRCRAFT

olls-Royce and airframer Tecnam
Rare joining forces with Widerøe - a
regional airline in Scandinavia - to deliver an

all-electric passenger aircraft for the commut-
er market, ready for revenue service in 2026.
The project builds on the successful
research programme between Rolls-Royce

and Widerøe on sustainable aviation

and the existing partnership between
Rolls-Royce and Tecnam on powering the Rolls-Royce will bring its expertise in er aircraft market. Before the pandemic,

all-electric P-Volt aircraft. propulsion and power systems, Tecnam will Widerøe offered around 400 flights per day

Stein Nilsen, chief executive, Widerøe said, provide aircraft design, manufacturing and using a network of 44 airports, where 74% of

“Norway’s extensive network of short take-off certification capabilities. Widerøe’s mission the flights have distances less than 275 km.

and landing airports is ideal for zero emissions will be to ensure that all competence and The shortest flight durations are between

technologies. This aircraft shows how quickly requirements of an airline operator are in seven and fifteen minutes. Developing

new technology can and will be developed, place for entry into service in 2026. all-electric aircraft will enable people to

and that we are on track with our ambition of Andreas Aks, chief strategy officer, Wid- be connected in a sustainable way and will

flying with zero emissions around 2025.” erøe said, “We are excited to be offered the fulfil Wideroe’s ambition to make its first

Rob Watson, director Rolls-Royce electri- role as launch operator, but also humble all-electric flight by 2026.

cal said, “Electrification will help us deliver about the challenges of putting the world’s The all-electric P-Volt aircraft, which is

our ambition to enable the markets in first zero emissions aircraft into service. based on the 11-seat Tecnam P2012 Travel-

which we operate achieve net zero carbon Our mission is to have all new capabilities, ler aircraft is ideal for the short take-off and

by 2050. This collaboration strengthens processes and procedures required for landing as well as for routes in the North
our existing relationships with Tecnam a zero emissions operator, designed and and the West Coast of Norway.

and Widerøe as we look to explore what is approved in parallel with the aircraft being Rolls-Royce and Widerøe announced a

needed to deliver an all-electric passenger developed and certified.” joint research programme in 2019.

aircraft for the commuter market. It also Fabio Russo, chief project R&D and prod- The aim of the programme was to evaluate

demonstrates Rolls-Royce’s ambitions to be uct development Tecnam said, “It is incredi- and develop electrical aircraft concepts that

the leading supplier of all-electric and hy- ble to see the interest around the P-Volt, not would fulfil the Norwegian ambition of having

brid electric propulsion and power systems only coming from regional airlines, but also the first electrified aircraft in ordinary domes-

across multiple aviation markets.” from smart mobility-based companies. This tic scheduled flights by 2030 and 80% emis-

The programme will look to cover all last year has demonstrated the importance sion reduction in domestic flights by 2040.

elements of developing and delivering an of promoting capillary connections between Rolls-Royce also has an existing strategic

all-electric passenger aircraft that could be small communities, while reducing the con- partnership with Tecnam to develop the

used in the Norwegian market from 2026. gestion of the main hubs. The P-Volt, like the modified Tecnam P2010 aircraft with the

Due to its topography, Norway makes ex- P2012 traveller today, will perfectly fit the H3PS[1] propulsion system, the first parallel

tensive use of aviation for regional connec- scope of this programme. hybrid-electric propulsion system for gen-

tivity and has an ambition for all domestic The collaboration offers an opportunity to eral aviation started together with Rotax in

flights to be zero emissions by 2040. develop an exciting solution to the commut- May 2018. Q

ROLLS ROYCE POWERTRAIN

of the wing, for vertical take-offs. Vertical Aerospace has already flown

The front set also tilt to provide power multiple full-scale prototypes of its

olls-Royce is to supply an for forward flight. design. Assembly of the first VA-X4 will

Rall-electric powertrain for an ur- Rolls-Royce will be responsible for begin shortly, ahead of a first flight later

ban air mobility vehicle being developed designing the architecture of the whole this year.
by UK-based Vertical Aerospace - the electrical propulsion system and the pow- In its most recent accounts, for the

propulsion specialist’s first commercial er distribution and monitoring system. year ended 31 December 2019, Vertical

deal in the emerging segment. The manned vertical take-off and land- Aerospace registered a pre-tax loss of

Vertical Aerospace’s VA-X4 design ing design will be able to carry up to four £8.1 million or (US) $11.2 million, having
features two banks of four 100kW elec- passengers on journeys of around 100nm spent £5.1 million on research and devel-

tric-powered rotors, located fore and aft (190km); certification is targeted for 2024. opment activities in the period. Q
World Airnews | April 2021
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