Flying the first Russian-made electric plane

During testing, the Yak-40 flying tester powered the electric propulsion system.

The first electric aircraft of Russian production, made on the basis of a flight laboratory applied to A yak 40, conducted its first test flight on Saturday within the framework of the MAKS 2021 aerospace exhibition, which is being held in the city of Zhukovsky (Moscow Province), RIA Novosti reports.

Yak-40, equipped with a hybrid propulsion system – based on a gas turbine engine and a superconducting electric motor – has just completed a test flight at the MAKS-2021 air show. The aircraft powered the electric propulsion systemThey confirmed in the press office of the Advanced Research Foundation.

The innovative electric motor, with a capacity of 500 kW (679 hp), was created by the Russian technology company SuperOx and specialists from the Baranov Central Institute for the Development of Aviation Engines and the Aviation Technical University in Ufa.

The propeller is installed on the front of the aircraft which is driven by an electric propeller (integrated into the hybrid drive system) where specialists have implemented High superconductivity technology and cryogenic cooling. This in turn ensures that the electric impulse, which is still being tested in the flight laboratory, enters a 5 and 20% cheaper.