GE Aerospace completes world's first hybrid electric flight above 30,000 feet
GE•GE Aerospace completed the world's first hybrid electric flight above 30,000 feet in May 2026 over Plattsburgh, New York. The modified Saab 340B flew for more than two hours with a system combining an electric powertrain and gas turbine.
1. Flight test milestone
GE Aerospace completed the flight as part of NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project, with a modified Saab 340B developed alongside NASA, BETA Technologies and Boeing. The system powered the propeller and recharged batteries during flight. Earlier ground tests demonstrated a megawatt-class hybrid electric engine system.
