Collins Aerospace produces working prototype electric motor for Airlander 10

The 2,000RPM permanent magnet electric motor has been developed in a partnership with Hybrid Air Vehicles and the University of Nottingham, where Collins has begun basic characterisation testing of the motor.

Collins said it is targeting specific power density levels of 9kW/kg and 98 per cent efficiency using a novel motor topology and composite construction.

The company is designing the motor at its Electronic Controls and Motor Systems Centre of Excellence in Solihull where it is also developing its 1MW 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 appropriately scaled to meet the needs of hybrid-electric and all-electric applications across multiple aircraft segments.

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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’ 500kW electric motors, starting with the two forward engines in 2026 and the two rear engines in 2030.