Rolls-Royce has revealed that it is about to begin testing its new small gas turbine (SGT) specifically developed for power hybrid-electric flight. The engine is part of a turbogenerator system that is being developed for the Advanced Air Mobility market. This includes electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) Aircraft for Urban Air Mobility and Commuter Aircraft applications of up to 19 seats.
The turbogenerator system will complement the Rolls-Royce Electrical propulsion portfolio by delivering an on-board power source with scalable power offerings between 500kW and 1200kW, enabling an extended range on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and later, as it becomes available, through hydrogen combustion. This will open up new, longer routes than battery-powered electric aircraft can currently support.
The later SAF testing will be used to expand the turbine’s capability envelope and as the commissioning project of Rolls-Royce’s test facility in Dahlewitz, Germany.
