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| Faradair BEHA - Hybrid engine |
Militarymedia.net - British start-up aerospace company Faradair Aerospace is developing a light regional passenger aircraft capable of short takeoff and landing (STOL) powered by a hybrid-electric engine.
The project, called Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA), has the support of four major partners, namely Honeywell, MagniX, Cambridge Consultants, and Nova Systems. The partnership was announced in December 2020.
Honeywell will support Faradair Aerospace in producing turbogenerators based on gas turbine and generator technology. The US aerospace group will also contribute to the avionics and flight control systems.
Meanwhile, another US company, MagniX will donate a pair of electric motors Magni500 each with a power of 560 kS and supply the MagniDrive control system.
The Cambridge Consultants research and development group, based near Faradair's new headquarters at Duxford airfield in eastern England, will support the program with expertise in hybrid propulsion architecture.
Nova Systems, also based in the UK, will assist the Faradair Aerospace team through the early stages of prototype development and will also contribute to the certification process for the BEHA aircraft family.
Regarding its appearance, the BEHA aircraft design looks unique, adopting a triple stacked wing (triplane) which is joined by a winglet.
This aircraft without tail fins uses a ducted fan engine model. The construction is constructed using full carbon composites.
As for its dimensions, the BEHA is similar in size to the classic British Aerospace Jetstream 31 twin turboprop regional aircraft, with a wing span of 17 m, length of 15 m and height of 4.3 m.
This aircraft is designed to carry 18 passengers or 5 tons of goods in flights up to a distance of about 1,850 km. The flying altitude of the BEHA is up to 4,300 m and a cruising speed of around 370 km / h.
Faradair Aerospace's business plan is to build around 300 BEHA aircraft which will be self-owned and operated.
A total of 75 units are for passenger and cargo transportation, 50 of the aircraft are used for special delivery services and 150 for fire-fighting operations. The remaining 25 planes are used for border patrol and fisheries, as well as drug control.
The first flight of the BEHA prototype will take place in 2024 and begin full operational testing in 2026. Faradair Aerospace targets that in 2030 it will also produce a fully electric version of the BEHA.
