Hybrid-electric Panthera takes to the air

摘要

Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel announced it has completed the first phase of flight testing of its four-seat touring Panthera equipped with a hybrid-electric propulsion system "successfully demonstrating the possibility of local zero-emission flights by performing all-electric take-offs". Flying from Slovenia's Cerklje ob Krki Airport, the aircraft (S5-PlI03) was powered by a sustainable aviation fuel-capable, hybrid-electric powertrain developed under the EU-funded Modular Approach to Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Architecture (MAHEPA) project led by Pipistrel Vertical Solutions. With a fuel-driven generator charging the batteries and powering an electric motor, a second relies on fuel cells to produce power, enabling zero-emission flight. Data from flight tests will be used to model future operating scenarios of hybrid electric aviation, paving the way towards greener aircraft. The MAHEPA Panthera has a cruise speed of 177kts, a range of 350nm, and a maximum take-off weight of 1,315kg.