The University of Arkansas has achieved a major milestone in its ambitious project to design and develop battery-powered motor drives for aircraft, with a successful test flight of their electric motor drive on a hybrid electric aircraft on Feb 20.

• Gearing up for flight: Collaborating with Ampaire, Wolfspeed, and the University of Illinois, U of A researchers designed a 250-kilowatt motor drive to power a rear electrical engine in the aircraft.
• Electric feel: With their successful test flight, the U of A researchers' project could lead to significant changes in the aeronautics industry, with huge benefits to environmental quality, as electric-powered aircraft replace gas-guzzling engines.

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