ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT ENGINE

The present invention provides an electric aircraft engine. It also provides an aircraft, comprising such an electric aircraft engine. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the electric aircraft engine comprises an electric motor with a rotor configured to be driven in rotation about a central axis, a fan having a central yoke mechanically coupled to the rotor for driving the fan and a plurality of fan blades projecting radially outwardly from the yoke, and an anti-icing and/or de-icing system to remove and/or prevent built-up of ice on the fan, said anti-icing and/or de-icing system comprising an electrical power source and a wireless energy transfer system for wirelessly transferring energy for anti-icing and/or de-icing from the electrical power source to the fan. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the electric aircraft engine comprises an electric motor with a rotor configured to be driven in rotation about a central axis, a fan having a central yoke mechanically coupled to the rotor for driving the fan and a plurality of fan blades projecting radially outwardly from the yoke, an anti-icing and/or de-icing control unit configured to deliberately induce electric motor losses and thereby increase temperature and/or vibrations in the electric motor, and a thermal and/or vibrational conduction path for conducting thermal and/or vibrational energy for anti-icing and/or de-icing from the electric motor to the fan.