If I understand this right, they're still driving the prop mechanically through a gearbox during cruise, rather than using turbo-electric transmission?
That's my understanding. Given that the turbine is used in parallel during takeoff/climb and drives the electric motor as a generator during descent (while presumably still driving the prop) there would need to be a mechanical linkage. Since the linkage is already there, you wouldn't save on weight by using a serial hybrid setup for cruise and the turbine is already sized to be running in an efficient power band for cruise flight.
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If I understand this right, they're still driving the prop mechanically through a gearbox during cruise, rather than using turbo-electric transmission?
That's my understanding. Given that the turbine is used in parallel during takeoff/climb and drives the electric motor as a generator during descent (while presumably still driving the prop) there would need to be a mechanical linkage. Since the linkage is already there, you wouldn't save on weight by using a serial hybrid setup for cruise and the turbine is already sized to be running in an efficient power band for cruise flight.