Hybrid Rotax debuts on CFM Dardo

Hybrid powerplants are common on cars using both an internal combustion engine ane an electric motor plus a heft set of batteries. Now an international consortium has come up with a similiar concept for light aircraft.

An Italian CFM Dardo light sport aircraft was shown at the Paris Air Show fitted with a Rotax 912 engine, a special gearbox and an off the shelf electric motor. Batteries go in the aircraft’s tail to balance the extra 23kg of weight over a standard Rotax engine, and the extra length of the installation.