Transense and Unison collaboration advances next-gen propulsion in hybrid-electric flight

The technology powered the first hybrid-electric flight above 30,000 feet and the first hybrid-electric transatlantic crossing, a milestone displayed at the prestigious Farnborough International Airshow.

The application combined Transense’s SAWsense torque sensing technology with Unison’s aerospace engineering, industrialisation, qualification, and integration expertise.

Transense supplied the foundational sensing technology, while Unison adapted and advanced the technology for the airborne demonstration at one of the world’s leading aerospace events.

The demonstration highlights continued progress in the development of technologies intended to support more efficient hybrid-electric propulsion concepts into the future.

“This is an important milestone for advanced propulsion development and for the role of torque sensing in future aircraft propulsion technologies,” said Ryan Maughan, Managing Director of Transense Technologies plc. “We are proud to see our foundational SAWsense technology incorporated into Unison’s industrialised solution and successfully demonstrated at the Farnborough International Airshow.”

For aviation innovators, the demonstration provides a high-profile example of how specialised sensing technology can move from laboratory development into flight-relevant applications, supporting the industry’s broader push toward next-generation aircraft propulsion.

“The flight demonstration at Farnborough reflects the strength of combining differentiated sensing technology with aerospace application engineering, qualification and integration,” said Josh Friedman, Engineering Leader at Unison. “We value our long-standing relationship with Transense and the role this collaboration plays in advancing next-generation propulsion technology development.”

The work demonstrates how complementary capabilities across sensing innovation and aerospace system application can help advance technologies being explored for next-generation aircraft propulsion systems focused on improved efficiency, lower emissions and extended range.