Imagine a unique-looking and unusually quiet airplane landing in a parking lot, with passengers boarding and taking off from an area smaller than a football field. This may sound like a dream, but agile electric or partially electric airplanes are already being developed by commercial operators. The focus is on hybrid technology, with plans to start electrified flying around 2028. Hybrid airplanes use liquid fuel alongside electricity charged to batteries, with multiple engines.

One example is the European Airbus EcoPulse aircraft, with one internal combustion engine and six electric motors. The fuel used is low-emission, renewable aviation fuel known as SAF (sustainable aviation fuel). Companies like Finn Lie are exploring hybrid machines to provide direct air connections to companies in need of air travel services. These hybrid aircraft have the potential to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional aviation.

A key development in this field is the technology called “blowing lift” which increases lifting force using air flow to achieve takeoff and landing at low speeds. This technology has been refined with the help of high-powered computers and support from agencies like the US Air Force and NASA. Companies like Electra and Heart Aerospace are working on hybrid planes with different passenger capacities and flying ranges, aiming to bring electrified regional flying to the market in the coming years.

In Finland, there is a growing interest in electric flying, with organizations like MAF Suomi working to transition aid flights in remote areas to electric aircraft in the future. The potential of electric and hybrid airplanes is becoming more evident, with companies and researchers collaborating to innovate and bring sustainable aviation solutions to the market.