Wright Electric has started ground-testing the electric propulsion system it is developing for aircraft in the 100-seat class. The company announced on April 25 that engineers have begun development work with its Wright Electric Aircraft Engine Test Cell (WEAETC) at its headquarters in Albany, New York.

The new test cell will evaluate the 2-megawatt Wright 1A motor with both a Lycoming LF507-F turbofan and a propeller from a C-130 military aircraft. In a second phase of ground testing, the company will start work on the 2.5MW WM2500 motor, featuring an integrated custom drive, that is being developed with backing from the U.S. government’s ARPA-E Ascend program.

Wright’s founder and CEO Jeffrey Engler told AIN that his team is focusing on the LF507 engine because this is the powerplant for the existing BAe 146 family of regional airliners that the company sees as suitable for conversion to electric propulsion. It also sees potential to electrify the widely-used C-130 military logistics aircraft.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is teaming up with San Antonio International Airport in Texas to advance sustainable aviation technologies such as batteries for electric aircraft, energy storage solutions, and power management systems.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the DOE’s innovation unit, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city’s aviation department and public service board (CPS Energy), as well as the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), in which the partners pledged to collaborate on developing and promoting technologies that will help to decarbonize the aviation sector.

San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg joined representatives from ARPA-E, UTSA, and CPS Energy for a signing ceremony held at Stinson Municipal Airport in San Antonio. “This is an important agreement with the potential to shape the aviation industry of the future,” Nirenberg said. “Researching the decarbonization of aviation and finding new sustainable energy models is important work, and I am proud San Antonio will be playing a leading role in this cutting-edge research.”

The San Antonio International Airport is hoping to make big strides in the future of flying – which includes electric planes.

San Antonio International Airport is becoming the first international airport to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) on groundbreaking technologies.


This innovative partnership signifies a shared commitment to developing and deploying cutting-edge energy solutions that will decarbonize the aviation sector.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed by representatives from the City of San Antonio Aviation Department, ARPA-E, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and CPS Energy…