GE Aerospace Completes First High-Altitude Hybrid Electric Flight

GE Aerospace announced at the Farnborough International Airshow that it completed the first hybrid-electric flight to reach an altitude exceeding 30,000 feet. The achievement, reached on May 20 in Vermont, used a modified Saab 340B aircraft nicknamed Gertrude. The plane features a megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system on the starboard side and a standard GE CT7 turboprop on the left.

Developed through the NASA Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project, the effort involved partners including Boeing, BETA Technologies, and BAE Systems. Following the high-altitude milestone, the aircraft performed a transatlantic ferry flight from Plattsburgh, New York, to Farnborough, England. The longest flight in hybrid-electric operation lasted more than two hours, providing data to inform future designs such as the RISE program and Open Fan technology.

GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp stated that while a commercial product launch is not imminent, the flight serves as a proof point for next-generation offerings aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Simultaneously, the company reported strong second-quarter financial results, including a 21% revenue increase and a $210 billion engine and services backlog, driven largely by demand from Boeing's 737 and 787 programs.