Hybrid Planes

An aviation startup has plans to revolutionize regional air travel with gas-electric hybrid planes that capitalize on currently underutilized local airports. The initial fleet of 100 aircraft will employ technology similar to that used in consumer cars, with modular batteries in the wings supplemented by a gas turbine generator.

The hybrids will be quieter than their gas-powered counterparts and require about 40 percent less runway than larger planes, with a take-off distance of only 2,200 feet. They have a maximum range of about 700 miles at a maximum cruise speed of 340 miles per hour. Between flights, the batteries can be swapped out quickly and easily, reducing turn-around time to as little as ten minutes. And the pilot is optional, as all of the new planes will be drone-ready.

With a seating capacity of up to 27 passengers and an operating cost of only 8 cents per seat per mile (about $250 per hour) the company is poised to fill a critical void in air travel – frequent, short haul flights – while avoiding large, congested hubs. The company hopes to have planes in the air by 2022.