Airbus has officially opened its E-Aircraft Systems Test House at its Ottobrunn site near Munich, Germany.
The 4,500 square meter (48,000 square feet) facility will provide the infrastructure to install and test two hybrid-electric propulsion systems, each with a power of up to two 20MW.
The facility is a key hub for Airbus hybrid electric aircraft development activities and will be used as part of Airbus’ E-Aircraft Systems Programme and is the first test centre of its kind worldwide.
The E-Aircraft Systems Test House’s main objective is the integration of different sub-systems. It will include test benches for the integration with batteries and gas turbines, energy distribution systems and electric drives.
The test house was opened by Airbus chief technology officer Grazia Vittadini, Airbus defence and space CEO Dirk Hoke and Ilse Aigner, president of the Bavarian State Parliament.
Grazia Vittadini said, “The E-Aircraft Systems House represents a real competitive advantage for Airbus. With its 3,000 square meter (32,000 square feet) test area, we now have the infrastructure to move the transition to emission-neutral flight forward at an even faster pace.”
Airbus celebrated the topping out of its E-Aircraft Systems Test House back in September 2018.
