Whisper Aero Inc. and Electric Power Systems (EPS) have announced a partnership which will see Whisper combining its thrusters with EPS EPiC™ Energy and EPiC Power batteries for certifiable powertrains on Part 23 aircraft in the near-term.
“Since its earliest days, Whisper has been innovating high blade count electric ducted fans with significantly lower noise, higher performance, and improved safety,” said the company in a press release. “Enabling innovations in electric motors have opened up a new design space that decouples power and thrust, typically integrated in a turboprop or turbojet. No longer limited by this coupling, Whisper has been able to maximize the efficiency of its fans at lower fan pressure ratios for higher speed flight. Recent tests have proven this to be the case with its larger 80 lbf thrust propulsor prototypes. This has allowed Whisper time to search for ideal powertrain partners to provide power and energy that work best with its propulsion systems.”
The joint Whisper and EPS team have begun the maturation of a retrofit Part 23 concept enabled by Whisper’s 80 lbf eQ250 propulsors, Whisper’s JetFoil™ integration, and EPS EPiC energy storage systems. Over the coming months, the team will be expanding these efforts to include larger arrays of Whisper’s propulsors with batteries that can be combined with a high voltage bus and a turbogenerator in a flightworthy hybrid electric demonstrator. Recent team additions like Whisper’s Certification Strategic Advisor, Brian Klinka, will help accelerate the team’s efforts towards airworthiness for commercial and DoD applications.
“Ultimately, the goal is to field these powertrains in complete solutions on retrofit and clean-sheet designs that enable affordable, sustainable flights at scale. The EPS partnership also marks a growth in Whisper’s ReConnecTN coalition, fast-forwarding regional air mobility in the volunteer state. Iron bird tests and eventual electric flights will help inform Tennessee mobility initiatives in the southeastern United States.”
For more information
https://www.whisper.aero/news/whisper-aero-and-electric-power-systems-partner-to-enable-powertrains-for-regional-air-mobility