What Happened
French Engine Maker Partners with Electra for Ultra-STOL Propulsion
Safran has confirmed it will power Electra’s future EL9 ultra-short takeoff and landing (ultra-STOL) hybrid aircraft. The EL9, a nine-seater aircraft, will be equipped with a hybrid-electric propulsion system based on the Safran Arrano engine. The system, known as the TG600, couples two electric generators with a thermal engine and is expected to consume 18% less fuel than comparable engines. Electra has placed an order for 250 TG600 units, with the first bench test of the turbogenerator already completed. This development was first reported by AeroTime.