SANDUSKY, Ohio - magniX in Everett, Wash. announced the completion of testing for its magni650 electric propulsion unit (EPU) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA’s) Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) in Sandusky, Ohio. The tests demonstrated the EPU's ability to operate at an altitude of 30,000 feet, producing a continuous power output of 700 kilowatts.
This performance under simulated flight conditions marks a critical step toward the certification of the electric engine and readiness for the next phase of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project.
The EPFD program will now move toward flight testing, scheduled for 2026. In the first phase, one of four turbine engines on a De Havilland Dash 7 aircraft will be replaced with the magni650 electric powertrain. In a later stage, a second turbine engine will also be replaced with a magniX system. The modified configuration is projected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 40% on standard flights. Data from the program aims to accelerate the introduction of large-scale electric commercial aircraft by the end of the decade.
Related: magniX announces next phase in NASA's EFPD program
“The NEAT test campaign has moved us closer to the world’s first certification of an electric powertrain for aviation,” said Ben Loxton, magniX VP of Technical Programs. “The work we are doing with NASA in the EPFD project will enable the electrification of regional commercial aviation in pure electric on short routes, and hybridization on longer routes – significant steps toward the decarbonization of aerospace.”
