Hybrid flight laboratory
Since 2020, in cooperation with Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM), Siberian Institute of Aviation (SibNIA) and Zhukovsky National Research Center, SuperOx integrates the cryogenic HTS electric motor on board of the Yakovlev-40 hybrid flight laboratory and conducts its first flight tests. Under this project, 500 kW HTS electric motor with autonomous cryocooling system was installed in the nose of the aircraft, while the turboshaft engine and a generator were installed in the tail, substituting one of the regular Yak-40’s AI-25 engine. Other components of the hybrid power system – such as batteries – are placed in the fuselage. Thus, SuperOx HTS electric motor became a part of a hybrid propulsion system demonstrator developed by CIAM. The world’s first flight experience of the HTS motor is expected to be one of the main takeaways of this ambitious project.