Posted on 06/15/2026 7:36:49 PM PDT by Red Badger
The concept is designed to fit within existing airport gates and airline operations.
The configuration also supports a twin-aisle cabin layout. Electra
A hybrid-electric aviation company has unveiled a new conceptual aircraft design for next-generation airliners.
Electra’s conceptual aircraft uses a wide “double-bubble” fuselage that allows the body of the aircraft to contribute more lift, while two underwing turbofan engines produce thrust as well as electricity to power electric tail fans that ingest and re-energize slower-moving air over the fuselage.
Latest configuration could deliver up to a 17 percent efficiency
The technique is known as boundary layer ingestion. Electra’s analysis found that the configuration could deliver up to a 17 percent efficiency improvement beyond gains expected by 2050 from advanced structures, engine technologies, and aerodynamic improvements.
“The value of electrification in this concept is that it lets us put the propulsion where it couldn’t go before but does the most good,” said Dr. Parker Vascik, Director of Product Strategy at Electra.
“We can radically improve how the airframe and propulsion system work together while keeping the aircraft grounded in real airline and airport operations. The goal is not just efficiency on paper, but concepts that we can actually build, certify, and use.”
The company also revealed that the concept is designed to fit within existing airport gates and airline operations, use standard jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuel, and avoid reliance on airport charging infrastructure or untested fuel types. The configuration also supports a twin-aisle cabin layout within a narrowbody aircraft class, unlocking improved passenger comfort and more efficient boarding and deplaning.
The concept is developed as part of NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 program.
“This concept builds on years of research into how airframe shape and propulsion placement can work together to improve aircraft efficiency,” said Dr. Alejandra Uranga, Electra’s Chief Engineer for Research and Future Concepts.
“What is different now is the ability to use electrification and distributed propulsion to more deeply integrate those systems. Designing the aircraft as a whole system is essential to realizing the full potential of future commercial aircraft.”
NASA’s open-source Aviary multidisciplinary design adopted
In addition to the concept, Electra developed 11 technical papers documenting the models, methods, and findings behind the study. The company also adopted NASA’s open-source Aviary multidisciplinary design and optimization tool and developed an electrified aircraft design suite intended for public use. Together, these contributions are intended to help advance the broader aviation research community, not just push forward a single aircraft concept, according to a press release.
Electra’s AACES 2050 team brought together leaders across industry and academia, including American Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Hinetics, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the University of Michigan Department of Aerospace Engineering, and the University of California, Irvine’s Aircraft Systems Laboratory, as per the release.
“Through AACES, NASA is pushing the industry to think boldly, to use our novel propulsion technologies to unconstrain design thinking for the next generation of commercial aviation,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra.
“The third era of aviation will bring radical change to how people and places connect, whether applied to aircraft entering service this decade, future regional platforms, or commercial transport by mid-century. Electra’s focus as the hybrid electric leader is to keep American aviation, and NASA, leading the way.”
What does George Jetson say ‘bout dat?
Range efficiency isn’t the same as range, is it?
I don’t think so.............
BRAVE AI:
Range efficiency in electric vehicles (EVs) is a measure of how effectively a vehicle converts stored battery energy into forward motion, typically expressed in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh) or kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (kWh/100 mi). It is distinct from total range, which is the product of battery capacity and efficiency; while range indicates distance, efficiency indicates the energy cost to achieve that distance.
Key factors influencing range efficiency include:
Vehicle Design:
Aerodynamics, weight, and tire selection significantly impact efficiency, with sleek sedans often achieving 3.5–4.5 mi/kWh compared to 2.5–3.5 mi/kWh for crossovers and SUVs.
Driving Conditions:
High speeds increase aerodynamic drag, drastically reducing efficiency, whereas city driving allows for regenerative braking to recapture energy.
Environmental Factors:
Cold weather can reduce efficiency by up to 35% due to cabin heating demands, while temperature extremes also affect battery performance.
Charging Losses:
Efficiency metrics like MPGe often include charging losses, where roughly 85–90% of grid energy reaches the battery, whereas driving consumption metrics exclude these losses.
For context, the median efficiency for 2024 midsize cars ranged from 2.17 to 4.17 mi/kWh, while standard SUVs ranged from 0.97 to 2.94 mi/kWh. Understanding efficiency is critical for estimating real-world range and charging costs, as a more efficient vehicle travels farther on the same amount of electricity.
Yes, but this article is about this new “Electra” aircraft, not Joby or Archer Aviation (or the other 3 dozen companies working on EV planes).
Wow, Cash in 1968 with Luther Perkins. Live. No gimmicks. What talent.
“HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT PING”
Nopt. No batteries.
A simple thing like winglets increased efficiency on the B757 by that much.
Rube Goldberg would be proud of this contraption.
EC
“The eVTOL aircraft that Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are creating are battery powered”
Say hello to the big elephant in your room - that fact that jet fuel has a power to weight ratio 800 percent better than any battery in existence.
“electric airplanes are the future” is about is true as “I’m finding the root causes of illegal immigration” (Kamala) or “I’m going to find the real killers” (OJ Simpson) or “There are no US forces in Baghdad”
That’s what I gathered from the article.
So basically its a normal jet airliner with some other weird
fan stuff duct taped to the tail section. “Electro” my ass.
The details are sketchy but as I get it, a portion of the conventional turbofan engine energy is siphoned off to produce electricity to power smaller electric engines mounted top rear. And the body cross-section is considerably wider, providing some natural buoyancy.
17% more fuel efficient, they say. If true, this is a pretty big deal. Let’s see how the real system performs.
I should not be joking, in the wake of the B-52 catastrophe.
There’s actually a Jetson One eVTOL that’s a really small one man machine. Looks like custom build only. I have no idea what licensing is required for them. Anduril CEO Palmer Lucky has one.
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