easyJet has welcomed the announcement by its partner Wright Electric (Wright) on its engine development program for its flagship 186-seat electric aircraft, named Wright 1.
Wright is engineering electrical systems at the megawatt scale which will be necessary for commercial flight for its 186-seat electric aircraft. It is building a 1.5 MW electric motor and inverter at 3 kilovolts. These components will form the powerplant of Wright’s revolutionary Wright 1 aircraft and move towards aiming to pave the way for a future of zero-emissions flight in Europe and worldwide.
Wright is in discussions with BAE Systems relating to flight controls and energy management systems and intends to conduct ground tests of its motor in 2021 and flight tests in 2023. At an event the company held in New York City on January 30, Wright demonstrated a preview of its motor and fan and has also announced that it is moving its headquarters to Albany, NY to take advantage of the world-class engineering talent there.
The motor development program is the next step towards building its narrow-body-class aircraft, while Wright will be simultaneously conducting aerodynamic tests on its fuselage, which will inform the propulsion design. The company expects entry into service of its flagship Wright 1 in 2030. A number of government agencies in the United States are aiding research by providing funding into electric aviation including NASA and Air Force Research Laboratory.
