Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Zunum Aero has chosen a new turbine engine from Safran Helicopter Engines to drive the electrical generator in the hybrid-to-electric commercial aircraft it expects to reach the market in the early 2020s, the Washington state-based venture announced Thursday. Internally dubbed the ZA10, the 12-seat hybrid aircraft capable of flying to a range of 700 miles would derive its power from two sources: propulsion batteries and a Safran turboshaft engine rated from between 1,700 and 2,000 shaft horsepower.
The new engine model, the Ardiden 3Z, will couple with an electric generator; the resulting integrated turbo-generator will deliver 500 kW of electric power to supplement the battery packs on key stages of flight and over long ranges.&nbsp;Zunum says that upgrades such as advanced materials and integrated lifecycle management for hybrid service will “dramatically” reduce operating costs of the engine by extending the life of critical components.&nbsp;
Zunum expects the new aircraft to operate at a cost of 8 cents per available seat mile, or $250 per hour, which is 60&nbsp;to 80 percent lower than comparable conventional aircraft of a similar size.&nbsp;The company has designed the ZA10 to cruise and land on turbo-generator power alone, offering full redundancy, according to Zunum.&nbsp;
Zunum co-founder and chief technology officer Matt Knapp characterized the partnership with Safran as a natural choice because a compact and lightweight 500 kW-capable gas turbine accounts for a key element of the MW-class hybrid-to-electric powertrain needed to complement the airplane’s propulsion batteries.
“Today marks a significant milestone on the path to delivery of the ZA10,” said Knapp. “The Zunum ZA10 will bring breakthrough performance to regional aviation, paving the way to fast, electrified, affordable high-speed air services to communities everywhere.”&nbsp;
Near-term project milestones include ground- and flight testing scheduled for 2019, followed by delivery of the ZA10 in the early 2020s.&nbsp;Zunum has chosen a Rockwell Turbo Commander 840 to modify for the flying testbed.&nbsp;The airplane offers weight and performance similar to that of the ZA10, and Zunum says its "excellent single-engine capability" will allow program engineers to&nbsp;modify and test in phases for a high degree of safety.&nbsp;
In preparation for flight in 2019, Zunum Aero conducted ground tests of the hybrid-electric power system at Chicago-area facilities earlier this year.&nbsp;Through the fourth quarter of 2018 and early 2019, it will continue to upgrade and test the power system in stages to advance it for flight.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Ardiden 3Z engine will undergo ground tests in France and the U.S., ahead of integration with the flying testbed in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Modifications of the test aircraft began on schedule for a series of flights in the second half of 2019, leading to full hybrid-to-electric conversion with the Safran engine.&nbsp;Zunum says it will continue to upgrade the flying testbed with “successive” prototypes until the start of the type certification process in 2020 or 2021.&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Safran Turboshaft To Power Zunum’s Hybrid/Electric Airliner

Ardiden 3Z rated to generate between 1,700 and 2,000 shaft horsepower

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Gaseous hydrogen fuel tanks have been moved out of the cabin to the wing

Beyond Aero Reveals Redesign of Hydrogen Business Jet

Matt Thurber

New avionics replace the Honeywell Apex avionics on previous models

Pilatus Unveils PC-12 Pro with Garmin Avionics 

UK start-up has funds to support work through the end of 2025

Vertical's Third VX4 eVTOL Aircraft Prototype Takes Shape

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Gulfstream Aerospace’s G700 business jet is one of five candidates 

Gulfstream, Skyryse among 2024 Collier Trophy Finalists

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Aircraft was sold in 27 days

SmartJets Speed Runs Sale of Dassault Falcon 2000

Kerry Lynch

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Globally, business jet departures were down a percentage point

Global Bizjet Flights Dip in February

Neelam Mathews

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

The e200 aircraft should have a range of up to around 60 nm

India’s ePlane Set To Start Flight Testing Two-seat eVTOL Aircraft

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

More In Aircraft