Lange Aviation and Lyte Aviation have embarked on a risk-sharing partnership to launch a prototype hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain for the anticipated SkyBus LA-44 aircraft by Lyte Aviation.
As part of the alliance, Lyte aims to engage PhD students from the new Centre for Doctoral Training in net zero aviation at Cranfield University.
Hailing from Germany, since 1999, Lange Aviation has been steering the development of electric propulsion for aircraft. Their collaboration with the country’s DLR aerospace research agency has led to testing fuel cell technology on the Antares DLR-H2 testbed. Lange is now gearing up to commence flight tests on the Antares E2 model later this year. Notably, these aircraft will also employ hydrogen fuel cells, a central element of the SkyBus powertrain.
Lange’s vast expertise in electric and hybrid propulsion technology and their knowledge of certification processes are considered instrumental to the start-up’s goal of commercializing SkyBus in five to six years. Lyte Aviation is also developing a freighter version named the SkyTruck LA-44C and a 19-seat X-Prime version targeting the business aviation industry.
Achieving the propulsion system for the SkyBus prototype within a year is a significant objective for the still fundraising Lyte Aviation. The Antares testbed’s powertrain can function solely on battery power or fuel cells, or hybrid mode, simplifying the testing of the fuel cell technology.
Lyte Aviation’s founder and CEO, Freshta Farzam, views the partnership with Lange Aviation as beneficial for their technology. Focused on hybridization and certification of the prototype’s hybrid-hydrogen power output, the collaboration is expected to deliver results swiftly.
The development of the Antares E2 is led by Lange Research Aircraft, Lange Aviation’s sister company. With a wingspan of 23 meters, six propellers, and electric motors, it is projected to have a range of up to 3,000 kilometers. It comes with a payload capacity of 200 kilograms and an endurance of 20 flight hours. The company is based at Zweibrücken Airport, facilitating flight testing, and it employs 30 people.
