Collins Aerospace has produced the first working prototype of its 500-kilowatt electric motor suitable for the Airlander 10 aircraft under a partnership with Hybrid Air Vehicles and the University of Nottingham. Collins has begun basic characterisation testing of the motor at the University of Nottingham.
For the 2,000 RPM permanent magnet electric motor, Collins is targeting specific power density levels of nine-kilowatts per kilogram and 98% efficiency through the use of a novel motor topology and composite construction. Collins is designing the motor at its Electronic Controls and Motor Systems Centre of Excellence in Solihull, UK, where it’s also developing its one-megawatt electric motor and motor controller for the Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator. The two motors are part of Collins’ technology roadmap for the development of a family of electric motors that can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of various hybrid-electric and all-electric applications across multiple aircraft segments.
Airlander 10 is scheduled to begin hybrid-electric operation in 2026, followed by all-electric, zero-emission operation in 2030. To achieve this, the aircraft’s four fuel-burning engines will be replaced by Collins’ 500-kilowatt electric motors—beginning with the two forward engines in 2026 and the two rear engines in 2030.
