Engines
Wright Logs 1-MW Output With Electric Motor Generator
Wright Electric aims to produce a 2-MW powertrain that could power single-aisle airliners and will soon start new tests with NASA.
Wright Electric's motor generator
Wright Electric has achieved a 1-MW power output with its motor generator. (Image: ARPA-E/David Keith Photography)

Wright Electric has achieved a 1-MW power output with the electric motor generator it is developing for future airliners. During this week’s Paris Airshow, the U.S. company also announced it has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to conduct altitude testing of the powertrain at the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT), starting in early 2024.

The testing will evaluate how the motors perform in high-altitude operations as thinner air can cause short-circuiting and electromagnetic interference. Wright designed its propulsion system to operate at 40,000 feet, and NASA's altitude chamber can replicate those conditions.