Zunum Aero ZA10

Hybrid-Electric Regional Airliner Aircraft [ 2022 ]

The Zunum ZA10 is an in-development, hybrid-electric regional airliner set to utilize a single gas turbine driving generators to power a twin ducted fan approach.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/30/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from official Zunum Aero marketing material.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Zunum Aero is a start-up aircraft concern based in scenic Kirkland, Washington and its current (2018) stable involves three distinct passenger-minded, hybrid-electric-powered airliner forms including the "ZA10" regional variant. The ZA10 project was revealed in April of 2017 and launched in early October of 2017. The current plan is to have a flyable version available for testing in 2020 with first-deliveries tentatively scheduled for 2022.

The technology behind the aircraft involves a single gas turbine driving a pair of generators coupled with wing-mounted battery packs for consistent, reliable, extended, and efficient flying - lowering operating costs for a regional airliner type by as much as 60% to 80%.

The current ZA10 design sees a traditional arrangement involving a sleek, aerodynamically-refined fuselage. The propulsion (electric ducted fan) units are held outboard along the aft section of the fuselage on wingstubs to reduce noise and direct output centrally. The nose has a short, downward-sloping nosecone with two-piece windshield for the side-by-side seated pilots (an unmanned option is also being examined). The wing mainplanes are set low along the fuselage sides and are positioned at midships. Each mainplane has a slightly up-turned wingtip. The tail unit involves outward-cranked vertical fins, negating the need for horizontal planes. The sides of the fuselage are dotted with rounded, rectangular windows. Access doors are featured forward and aft of the passenger section. A conventional, retractable tricycle landing gear arrangement will be used for ground-running.

Dimensionally, the aircraft is being drawn up with a wingspan of 52 feet, a length of 42 feet and a height of 18 feet. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is set for 11,500lb.

Beyond this is full-digital, responsive Fly-By-Wire (FbW) controlling, single-touch interfacing, optimized energy delivery, variable-pitch electric propulsors, and built-in systems modularity for future expansion/upgrades.

In a basic seating arrangement, the aircraft will be able to haul around twenty-seven persons in quiet comfort, the arrangement encompassing six in executive seating, nine in premium seating and twelve in economy seating. The aircraft is touted with an 8-cent seat-per-mile ($250 per hour) operating cost.

Current estimated performance specifications see the aircraft reaching out to over 700 miles and cruising near 340 miles per hour. Take-off distance is listed as 2,200 feet and its service ceiling is 25,000 feet. Rate-of-climb is 1,600 feet-per-minute. This will give the aircraft enough range for routes from Memphis to Chicago or New York and Seattle to San Jose (coast-to-coast-travel not currently possible).

A Rockwell Turbo Commander aircraft has been acquired by Zunum to serve as the project's flying testbed.©MilitaryFactory.com

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September 2018 - Safran Helicopter Engines of France has been selected as the engine supplier for the ZA10. The company will deliver a modified version of its Ardiden 3 (3Z) series turboshaft engine rated between 1,700 and 2,000 horsepower (certified as recently as 2013). This powerplant will become the centerpiece of the 500kW turbo-generator and work in conjunction with the battery packs, all three components feeding the twin 500kW electric ducted fans. Testing on the system is scheduled for sometime in 2019 (to take place in France).

Specifications

Service Year

2022

Origin

United States

Status

IN-DEVELOPMENT
Program in Progress.

Crew

1

Production

0
UNITS

Zunum Aero - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

United States (possible)

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

COMMERCIAL AVIATION
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

BIZJET
Used in roles serving the business aviation market, primarily VIP and regional travel.

VIP SERVICE
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

UNMANNED
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

Length

42.7 ft
(13.00 m)

Width/Span

52.5 ft
(16.00 m)

Height

18.0 ft
(5.50 m)

Empty Wgt

8,201 lb
(3,720 kg)

MTOW

11,497 lb
(5,215 kg)

Wgt Diff

+3,296 lb
(+1,495 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Zunum Aero ZA10 production variant)

Installed: 1 x Safran Helicopter Engines Ardiden 3Z turboshaft engine developing between 1,700 and 2,000 horsepower driving 2 x Electric ducted fans; 1 x Electric generator; Wing battery packs.

Max Speed

342 mph
(550 kph | 297 kts)

Ceiling

24,934 ft
(7,600 m | 5 mi)

Range

702 mi
(1,130 km | 610 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

1,600 ft/min
(488 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Zunum Aero ZA10 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

ZA10 - Base Series Designation.

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Images Gallery

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