CASSIO - Hybrid Electric Modular General Aviation Aircraft

Project Information

CASSIO

Grant agreement ID: 101010042

DOI

10.3030/101010042

Project closed

EC signature date 6 November 2020

Start date 1 December 2020

End date 30 June 2023

Funded under

• PRIORITY 'Societal challenges

Total cost

€ 3 054 035,00

EU contribution

€ 2 137 824,50

Coordinated by

VOLTAERO
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CASSIO (CASSIO - Hybrid Electric Modular General Aviation Aircraft)

Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2023-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

VOLTAERO has developed the first in the world parallel and series distributed hybrid propulsion system that will power a family of general aviation aircraft, CASSIO, with the seating capacity of four to ten passengers.

Regional travel route links are not optimally covered by existing transportation means. 85% of air traffic in the EU is concentrated in 43 of 2,570 airports, leaving 90% of the population without a hub within 120km, and over 2,500 community airports underutilized. Environmental concerns are growing. Countries are increasingly demanding air transportation solutions that generate less emissions and operate with lower noise, particularly in Europe.

The Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft offers a new mode of regional transportation that accesses more communities in less time, enhances mobility and alleviates road congestion problems–all in a safe and environmentally friendly way, at lower cost, without need for the massive, inflexible infrastructure.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Today, the project has led to (non-exhaustive list):
- The development of the CASSIO aerostructure with the achievement of a COR milestone
- The design and development of a new tri-surface aerodynamics with CFD model and analysis, design and manufacture of a wind tunnel mockup, installation and calibration of the mockup into the wind tunnel test vein
- The selection of suppliers of major systems through benchmark analysis, performance models and simulation and technical specification as well as Top Level Aircraft Requirement (TLAR) establishment
- Systems integration study through CAD modelling and ICD (Interface Control Document) establishment
- 1D multi-physics model allowing performance analysis on typical flight mission profiles
- Operational costs simulation and comparison with typical transportation means (train, car)

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

At this stage, CASSIO program increased the knowledge of technological building blocks of hybrid aircraft such as a flying 600kW hybrid power modulus, a full cockpit supervising all the power units, flying prototypes of electric motor including their characterization under battery pack feeding, integration of a lightweight thermal engine operating as a range extender and flying demonstration of patented serial/parallel hybridization concept.

In terms of impact, CASSIO aircraft will offer flexible point-to-point regional operations (passengers and cargo) –using the infrastructure of smaller regional airports, with lower noise level allowing 24/7 operations without disturbing local communities –will replace a significant volume of automobile trips, thus reducing road congestion and emissions. Hybrid aviation is a first step to a zero-emission pure electric air transport. It brings already the significant results into the global fight against the climate change.

CASSIO aircraft in operation

CASSIO aircraft in operation

CASSIO 330 Front view

CASSIO 330 Third view