Novel hybrid electric aircraft propulsion case studies

This paper describes two case studies for applying innovative architectures related to electrified propulsion for aircraft. Electric and hybrid electric propulsion for aircraft has gained widespread and significant attention over the past decade. The driver for industry interest has principally been the need to reduce emissions of combustion engine exhaust products and noise, but increasingly studies revealed potential for overall improvement in energy efficiency and mission flexibility of new aircraft types. In this work, conceptual new types for a skydiver lift and a recreational, leisure mission aircraft are examined. The opportunities which electric hybridisation offers for these role is analyzed in comparison with conventional legacy type propulsion systems. \nFor a conventional commercial skydiving mission, an All-Electric propulsion system is shown as viable, and a Hybrid-Electric system is shown to reduce aircraft fuel costs and CO2 emissions whilst maintaining conventional aero-engine operational benefits. An entirely novel leisure touring type aircraft is described and shown to highlight features only available with hybrid propulsion and can lead to commercial viability. \nThe new paradigm for aircraft development which hybrid electric propulsion enables has highlighted significant issues with aircraft certification practices as they exist today. Advancement of aircraft design and production to harness the value of new propulsion systems may require adaption and development of certification standards to cater for these new technologies.