Hybrid-Electric Airliner Concept. Electra
Aviation company Electra has revealed a new airliner concept developed as part of NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 program, exploring how electric propulsion and advanced aerodynamics could make future passenger aircraft more efficient.
The aircraft features a wide “double-bubble” fuselage that helps generate extra lift. Two turbofan engines mounted under the wings provide both thrust and electricity, which powers electric fans at the rear of the aircraft. These fans improve airflow over the fuselage, reducing drag and increasing efficiency.
According to Hybrid-electric aviation company Electra, the design could improve efficiency by up to 17% beyond the gains expected from future advances in engines, materials, and aerodynamics alone.
The concept is designed to work with existing airports and airline operations. It can use conventional jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuel and does not require airport charging systems or new fuel technologies.
The aircraft would also offer a twin-aisle cabin inside a narrowbody-sized airframe, providing more passenger comfort and faster boarding.
The project was led by Dr. Alejandra Uranga, Electra’s Chief Engineer for Research and Future Concepts. Building on earlier NASA and MIT research, the new design combines the double-bubble airframe with modern electric propulsion technologies to create a practical vision for future commercial air travel.
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