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VerdeGo Aero, a Florida-based start-up, has announced its plans for a 400-kilowatt hybrid-electric propulsion system. The company is currently developing a flightworthy prototype of the VH-4T turbine-based powerplant. This development follows testing with a full-scale iron bird test rig that began in late 2023.
The VH-4T is an advancement of VerdeGo Aero's earlier 185-kilowatt VH-3 hybrid-electric propulsion system. It is being developed with support from the U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research Phase II contract as part of the Afwerx program.
The new powertrain will incorporate Pratt & Whitney’s PW206/207 engine as its turbine element, along with electric motors and electronic control and thermal management systems. RTX Ventures, part of the engine manufacturer's parent group RTX, invested in VerdeGo Aero in mid-2022. To date, Pratt & Whitney has produced over 6,700 units from the PW200 engine family, which have logged more than 17 million hours in service.
