Zunum Aero one of Electrical Aircraft pioneer picked Safran Helicopter Engine for its new hybrid-electrical aircraft.
This new kind of aircraft should be in launch in the market early 2020. Safran Helicopter will provide a new generation engine turbine, the Ardiden 3Z to empower the Zunum ZA10's electrical generator.
This turbogenerator will provide enough power to make this hybrid-electrical aircraft flight. The new Zunum ZA10 will be equipped with 12 seats and will be able to flight more than 1,125km (700 miles) without a stop.
It will be a 2 to 4 time faster for "door-to-door" travel than actual aircraft for extremely lower operator costs. The aircraft should drive operating costs down to 8 cents per available seat mile, or $250 per hour. That’s said to be 60 to 80 percent lower than comparable conventional aircraft of comparable size.
Zunum wants to be positioned on more than 30,00 airports in the world with a lot of routes opened and affordable prices. Zunum and Safran are counting on advanced materials and integrated life cycle management to reduce the engine’s operating costs by extending the life of critical components.
“The Zunum ZA10 aircraft will bring breakthrough performance to regional aviation, paving the way to fast, electrified, affordable high-speed air services to communities everywhere.” said Matt Knapp, co-founder and CTO of Zunum Aero