How do you stream real-time telemetry from an electric aircraft – air-to-air, air-to-ground, across 35 km distances and even while crossing the English Channel? Airbus found the answer in RipEX.
https//www.racom.eu/eng/case/real-time-telemetry-for-airbus-electric-aircraft
Challenge: Reliable, High-Throughput Data Links for Electric Aircraft Research
Airbus Group Innovations leads the company-wide roadmap for electric aviation. Their E-Fan demonstrator aircraft was developed to evaluate the feasibility of electric propulsion, test disruptive technologies and reduce emissions across future aircraft platforms.
To validate these concepts, Airbus needed a communication system capable of:
- Sustaining real-time, high-bandwidth telemetry
- Working both air-to-air and air-to-ground
- Operating across long distances, including open-water flights
- Using lightweight antennas suitable for electric aircraft
- Ensuring seamless handover between communication points
After rigorous evaluation, Airbus selected RipEX due to its exceptional throughput, modern RF design and proven robustness.
Solution: RipEX 400 MHz Radios with Miniature 10 cm Antennas
Airbus equipped test aircraft with compact RipEX units operating in the 400 MHz band.
Across more than 100 test flights, RipEX provided:
- Air-to-air telemetry over 35 km
- Reliable operation using only 10 cm antennas
- Stable links between the E-Fan and a support aircraft
During the record-setting English Channel crossing, Airbus extended the setup to include simultaneous air-to-ground connectivity:
- A RipEX station at the departure airport in England
- A RipEX station at the arrival airport in France
- Automatic mid-flight handover from the English to the French station
This ensured real-time telemetry was continuously delivered to two independent ground units throughout the 74 km flight.
Results: Proven Reliability in a Landmark Electric Aviation Mission
The RipEX-based network provided:
- Seamless real-time data transmission during all flight phases
- Transparent switching between air-to-air and air-to-ground links
- High-quality telemetry despite minimal antenna size
- Full reliability across long distances and over open water
RipEX became a core communication enabler for the Airbus E-Fan research programme – demonstrating that even highly demanding aerospace applications can rely on RACOM technology.
