GE Aerospace and BETA Technologies Complete Hybrid-Electric-Assisted Takeoff on Modified Saab 340B
Why It MattersHybrid-electric propulsion is moving from ground rigs toward flight-tested takeoff assistance on turbine aircraft, though with no certification or service-entry timeline it remains a technology demonstration for now.
GE Aerospace and BETA Technologies said Wednesday that they completed a hybrid-electric-assisted takeoff using a modified Saab 340B during testing in Plattsburgh, New York. GE Aerospace described it as the first hybrid-electric-assisted takeoff for an aircraft designed to operate at commercial airline altitudes. The aircraft carried a conventional GE Aerospace CT7 turbine engine on its left side and a modified hybrid-electric engine on its right, with electric motors and batteries supplying additional power to the turbine during takeoff. GE said initial observations indicated less noise on takeoff than under conventional turbine-powered operation, but gave no comparative noise measurements.
"GE Aerospace is advancing the building blocks that will define the future of hybrid electric flight, now successfully demonstrating a more efficient commercial takeoff with a hybrid electric system," said Arjan Hegeman, vice president of future of flight engineering at GE Aerospace. "Step by step, we're proving out a suite of next-generation technologies, from hybrid systems to Open Fan architecture, to meet customer needs."
The demonstration follows ground testing of GE's megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system in June. In May, the aircraft completed a hybrid-electric flight above 30,000 feet under NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project, and it later crossed the Atlantic to attend the Farnborough International Airshow in July. Earlier flight tests evaluated electric power assistance during climb and cruise, as well as battery regeneration during cruise and descent.
The work supports CFM International's RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) technology demonstration program, which also includes Open Fan engine technology and targets fuel consumption improvements of more than 20% compared with commercial engines currently in service. GE and BETA announced their partnership in September 2025 to develop hybrid-electric propulsion systems for civil and defense applications. The Saab 340B remains a test aircraft, and GE has not announced a certification or commercial introduction timeline for the hybrid-electric system.
