Can a UK low-cost airline and a US start-up bring electric, green airline travel into service in the next decade? On 27 September easyJet revealed it had partnered with Wright Electric to help develop a short-haul all-electric airliner - with the goal of bringing it into service within ten years. If realised, this would represent a game-changing leap for aviation and a huge victory for aerospace in meeting or even exceeding its sustainable goals. Those with longer memories may recall when, in 2007, easyJet revealed the 'ecoJet' concept airliner featuring two open-rotor engines shielded by a twin U-tail designed to halve CO_2 emissions and cut fuel burn by 15%. The airline was reported at the time to be talking to Airbus and Boeing, as well as Rolls-Royce, about this concept with the news that it could be ready for service by 2015. However, both Airbus and Boeing opted to re-engine their existing narrowbody designs in the form of the Airbus A320neo and 737 MAX respectively, dashing the hopes of those who dreamed of exotic new shapes gracing the skies. Hopes for fast tracking Open Rotor technology have also been unfounded with a planned fly-off between Rolls-Royce and Safran Open Rotor demonstrator engines in the EU's Clean Sky project now reduced to just ground tests by Safran's model. Will battery-powered electric airliners suffer the same curse as easyJet's ecoJet? Championing this leap to electric flight is a bold and visionary move - and easyJet must be praised for its commitment to sustainable aviation goals. The innate conservatism of some parts of the aerospace industry, too, means that it is easy to knock radical future concepts - when they may help shape the debate, stimulate competition and spark innovation. The electric flight revolution may be progressing faster than expected in some areas (GA and 'aerial taxis') but, for larger passenger aircraft, there still remain significant obstacles. (See Charge of the electric flight brigade, p 30)
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