Month: March 2023

Global aerospace and defense industry leader Lockheed Martin has announced a major investment in Regent, developer of an electric ground-effect aircraft that will use distributed electric propulsion to travel overseas. The investment by Lockheed will help expedite the development of Regent’s seagliders for defense applications.

Regent’s seaglider seeks to combine the high speed of an airplane with the low operating cost of sea vessel. The aircraft will be fully-electric, and can to travel up to 180 miles in a single hour. The company’s vision is that the aircraft will be used to transport people and cargo between coastal destinations. It will be able to carry a total of 12 passengers, or up to 3500 lbs of payload.

Regent’s seagliders intend fulfill a need within the U.S. Department of Defense for high-speed, low-cost, runway-independent travel. Configurations are currently being planned for cargo and military personnel, but also for civilian and even luxury commercial travel.

With the new investment by Lockheed Martin, development of the Seaglider has received a major boost.

Said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of Regent, “We see defense strategy evolving toward an island-hopping force featuring agile, affordable, and distributed craft. This investment is a strong signal that seagliders can fill this immediate need in the high-priority missions faced by our Department of Defense. Lockheed Martin’s expertise and resources will be invaluable as we work together to adapt seagliders for defense use cases that are critically important to national security”

Said Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, “This investment reflects our commitment to innovating technologies that have the potential to transform the way we adapt to our customer’s needs and support mission success.”

Above: Footage of a recent prototype flight of the seaglider

Regent has already received orders for over 400 aircraft to date, mainly from commercial air travel customers like Japan Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, Southern Airways Express, FRS (Germany), and Ocean Flyer (New Zealand). In total, this has brought Regent’s order book up to $7.9B USD.

Why it’s important: Although Regent has also received many customers in the commercial transportation sector, this investment from Lockheed Martin shows the aircraft’s high potential for Defense as an initial break-through industry. Investments from major global leaders like Lockheed-Martin lend major credibility to new kinds of electric propulsion aircraft, and provide a way for them to prove their immense value propositions. By making this investment, Lockheed has signaled its interest in the development and application of these kinds of aircraft, as well as helped Regent to speed its path to commercialization.

Source // Regent, Globe Newswire

Related:

• Seaglider manufacturer REGENT secures investment from Japan Airlines (February 2023)

Ionblox, a high-performance lithium-ion cell company based in California, has announced that it has closed a $24 million Series B investment round led by German eVTOL startup Lilium, with participation from Applied Ventures, LLC, and Catalus Capital. The funds will be used to scale up Ionblox’s operations and manufacturing capabilities, as well as to invest in expanding the company’s team with a particular focus on hiring manufacturing talent.

Founded in 2017 by Sujeet Kumar, Herman Lopez, and Michael Sinkula, Ionblox aims to transform the future of mobility by land and air. “Our unique batteries can be scaled up with low risk and at a competitive cost because we use commercially available materials and proven production processes and equipment, rather than costly and hard-to-scale proprietary materials,” said Kumar.

Ionblox’s proprietary pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode and cell design can enable multiple performance attributes, such as fast charging, high energy, high power, and long life at low cost, pushing the limits of traditional battery storage technology. The company has more than 40 patents, including for the pre-lithiation of all silicon-based anodes.

Ionblox has developed a commercially scalable battery with a silicon-dominant anode that can provide high energy, high power, 1,000 fast charge cycles, and a clear path to low-cost production. The company has addressed all the well-known challenges of using silicon as an active material, and created a cell design that can uniquely deliver the key performance attributes for automotive and aviation applications.

“The long-term success of the eVTOL regional air mobility revolution depends on the continued development of high-performance batteries. After an extensive review, Ionblox’s pouch cell technology will be well-positioned to achieve superior combined performance for high power and energy density. We are very excited to continue our joint development,” said Yves Yemsi, COO of Lilium.

Lilium is a German eVTOL startup that has developed a six-passenger electric aircraft, the Lilium Jet, which will be the world’s first electric vertical take-off and landing jet. The company plans to create a regional air mobility service that will enable people to travel more quickly, affordably, and sustainably than traditional ground-based transportation. The company has raised more than $375 million in funding to date, with investors including Tencent and Atomico.

“Applied Ventures is very impressed with the tremendous progress Sujeet and the Ionblox team have made developing silicon anode batteries in collaboration with Applied Materials, Lilium, and EV companies,” said Anand Kamannavar, global head of Applied Ventures. “We look forward to supporting Ionblox in accelerating the commercialization of its next-generation batteries.”

Ionblox recently received its third development contract from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC) for developing low-cost, fast-charge electric vehicle batteries. The company’s batteries are suited for high-performance automotive and aviation applications, enabling electric vehicle and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft companies to achieve their performance goals.

Above: Profile view of the Lilium eVTOL jet

Why it’s important:

The success of the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry is heavily dependent on the development of high-performance batteries. These batteries need to be able to provide the necessary energy density and power required for safe and efficient flight while being as lightweight as possible. Ionblox’s proprietary pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode and cell design offers several key performance attributes, including fast charging, high energy, high power, and long life at a low cost. These attributes make the batteries ideally suited for high-performance automotive and aviation applications, including eVTOLs.

Ionblox’s collaboration with Lilium and other investors, as well as its partnership with USABC, both demonstrate the industry’s recognition of the importance of battery technology in the eVTOL sector. These investments and partnerships also highlight Ionblox’s potential to become a major player in the battery technology market, especially for eVTOL applications.

Related:

Archer has completed another round of wind tunnel testing at the RUAG Large Subsonic Wind Tunnel in Emmen, Switzerland. The six-week campaign collected data to validate Midnight’s aerodynamic models, load predictions, performance, stability/control characteristics.

The data will be used to validate against full-scale results in Archer’s upcoming flight test program of its ‘Midnight’ eVTOL. DeHarde, a German based model creator, built a 27.6% scale of Midnight for the wind tunnel testing.

The purpose of this test campaign was to develop a comprehensive dataset to validate Archer’s engineering design tools and to confirm the aerodynamic predictions of the Midnight eVTOL. Overall, 878 measurement sweeps were made by varying model angle of attack and sideslip and capturing force and moment trends for over 400 different model configurations. These model changes included varying control surface deflections, adjusting forward boom tilt angles, and stepping through an airframe component build-up. This build-up started with a bare wing/fuselage and then successively added booms, landing gear, tail, and stopped lifter propellers. This build-up approach allowed Archer to investigate and clearly understand the incremental effects of each airframe component.

The results further reinforce confidence in the capability and performance of the Midnight design. For example, cruise drag predictions trend extremely well with test data, which in turn further validates the confidence in Midnight’s range. The measured stability characteristics reinforce that the V-tail, flaperons and ruddervators are correctly sized and that they have adequate aerodynamic control power, while also confirming that control surface hinge moments meet requirements and that our actuators are properly sized. Testing for simulated ice accretion has given the team a good understanding of the speed additives necessary to protect the aircraft from performance degradations that we would expect to see during an inadvertent icing encounter.

The company has also completed series of wind tunnel testing at Politecnico di Milan, University of Florida, and University of Notre Dame.

Why it matters: Wind tunnel testing represents a significant risk-reduction and validation milestone for Archer. With the tests, Archer can nearly replicate real-life flight conditions and validate various components in the design/configuration of Midnight. This data will tremendously in finalizing the flight test configuration and contribute to the timely entry to service of Archer’s Midnight eVTOL.

Source // Archer Aviation

Related:

• United Airlines Completes $10M Pre-Payment for 100 Archer eVTOL Aircraft (August 2022)
• Archer Unveils its Production Aircraft, Midnight (November 2022)
• Archer Achieves Forward Flight Transition with Maker (December 2022)

LYTE Aviation, a new advanced air mobility innovator, has just revealed its 40-seat hybrid eVTOL SkyBus and SkyTruck programs.  Its LA-44 SkyBus and complementary SkyTruck cargo variant are vertical take-off and landing vehicles – designed to be five times more fuel efficient than current helicopters and support a 4.5 tonne payload, by employing hybrid-electric propulsion technology.

“The use of turbine engines will likely remain unavoidable for the foreseeable future, so in order to achieve useful and business-sensitive ranges as well as quicker time to market, we have opted for a hybrid, partly electric VTOL,” LYTE founder and CEO Freshta Farzam said.

Unveiled at the Helicopter Investor’s London 2023 conference, the LA-44 is powered by four conventional turbine engines, running on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) complemented with four electric motors at the wingtips for control and stability, powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

The turboprop engines of the SkyBus will be capable of using Jet-A or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), but LTYE’s ultimate objective is to rework the aircraft with all-hydrogen propulsion. In the meantime, the SkyBus is slated to offer a range of 1,000 km with a max speed of 300 km/hr powered by its hybrid electric tandem tilt-wing design.

“Conventional, highly reliable turboprops are the best option for our aircraft program for the time being, with the aim to operate and refuel practically anywhere with the current infrastructure. With the constant evolution and expected investment in global infrastructure, including vertiports, energy sources (SAF & green Hydrogen) and electric power plants, the ambition would be to become fully hydrogen-electric in the future,” Farzam said, aiming to displace air transport and land transport modalities such as buses, trains and trucks.

Why it’s important: Given the large size and noise footprint of the piloted SkyBus passenger aircraft, it may be tough for LTYE to secure certification and public acceptance. However, the company plans to pursue entry into service of its SkyTruck cargo variant as a primary goal, which will prove the technology and enable operation away from populated areas while accumulating hours on the airframe and supporting infrastructure.

Lyte has already held talks with prospective infrastructure partners and operators in the Middle East, while also targeting countries such as Norway and Canada as early-adopter markets. The project was initially funded by private investors, and LYTE is now preparing to launch a Series A round to fund building a full-scale prototype by 2024.

Intel confirmed today that they intend to join Airspeeder as their new Official Intelligence Partner in a strategic sponsorship agreement to provide end-to-end systems support and insights to help power the world’s first flying electric car racing series. The announcement coincides with public unveiling of the new Mk4 Airspeeder at Adelaide’s Motorsport Festival and will bring the global tech giant’s computing technologies to flying car racing.

As the Airspeeder Series’ Official Intelligence Partner, Intel’s Core and Xeon Scalable processors will help shape the sport to maximize its appeal to racers and fans alike. The new strategic sponsorship deal was revealed in a joint presentation at the Motorsport Show in Adelaide on March 25th, where Adelaide-based Alauda unveiled its new Mk4 Airspeeder – the first-ever piloted craft to take part in the Airspeeder race series.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Intel on board. The technology, insight and innovation it’s bringing to Airspeeder will transform our racing series, making it even more immersive and dynamic for pilots and spectacular for our audiences. Just as importantly, Intel’s ‘pervasive connectivity’ perfectly matches our vision of an always-connected, vertical-enabled future. Through the actionable insights provided by AI, we can achieve next-level eVTOL performance and control, which we see as the key to unlocking the future of private air mobility.” – Matt Pearson, CEO, Alauda Aeronautics.

“This is another example of Intel continuing to deliver the compute power needed to stretch the notion of what’s possible, make what was once science fiction a reality, and transform the way we live our lives. Helping Airspeeder bring this new concept to life has the potential to not only change the way we race, but also opens up endless possibilities in urban mobility.”- Andrew McLean, Managing Director ANZ, Intel.

Why it’s important: The partnership between Airspeeder and Intel will help to enhance the IT infrastructure and technological support network of Airspeeder as they work to bring their flying car racing series to a larger scale. Further, the announcement also is one of the first IT partnerships within the aerial mobility industry, offering Intel the chance to gain insights into the types of data that are collected and offloaded from unmanned aerial mobility systems along with the operational constraints and concerns of the industry. Potentially, lessons learned from Intel’s partnership with Airspeeder could eventually expand beyond just that of the flying car racing industry and into the general aerial mobility sphere.

Archer Aviation has announced a new upcoming route in partnership with United Airlines connecting downtown Chicago to O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The Chicago-based airline has made headlines over the past few years for its investment in eVTOL aerial mobility, most notably for its $1B USD order for 200 Archer eVTOL aircraft with deliveries starting as early as 2024.

The 10-minute trip will connect Vertiport Chicago with O’hare, a trip which today can take up to 45 minutes using alternative modes of transportation. This announcement is the second of its kind with the two companies already planning a route between Manhattan and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Vertiport Chicago, North America’s largest vertical aircraft take off and landing facility, is located in the Illinois Medical District near the Chicago Loop. This site was selected as the takeoff and landing site for this airport-to-city center route because of its unparalleled convenience, access and service.

United and Archer’s goal for its UAM network is to provide residents and visitors in the Chicago Metropolitan Area with a safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive alternative to ground transportation beginning in 2025. Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, a center for business, innovation and investment, and home to United’s headquarters. This makes it a unique city for Archer and United to build out. The early launch routes will focus in on airport-to-city center transportation service, which are referred to as “trunk” routes. Once the trunk routes have been established, United’s next step will be to build out “branch” routes to connect to surrounding communities.

“Both Archer and United are committed to decarbonizing air travel and leveraging innovative technologies to deliver on the promise of the electrification of the aviation industry,” said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures. “Once operational, we’re excited to offer our customers a more sustainable, convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation during their commutes to the airport.” 

“Technological innovation thrives here in Chicago, and this venture between Archer and United is yet another example of this strength,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “This exciting new technology will further decarbonize our means of transportation, taking us another step forward in our fight against climate change. I’m pleased that Chicago residents will be among the first in the nation to experience this innovative, convenient form of travel.” 

ComEd, the Midwest’s largest utility company, will work with United and Archer to establish the power infrastructure necessary to support eVTOL aircraft operations in and around the Chicago Metropolitan Area. 

Why it matters: While eVTOL certification are still underway, planning for commercial operations offers a glimpse into the near-future reality of aerial mobility. Passengers will receive a new, more convenient option for getting to and from the airport, while helping to decarbonize aviation and save time that would be spent otherwise in traffic.

Source: Archer Aviation Press Release

Related:

• Stellantis to Help Mass-Produce Archer’s Midnight eVTOL (January 2023)
• Archer Achieves Forward Flight Transition with Maker (December 2022)
• Archer Unveils its Production Aircraft, Midnight (November 2022)

The United Arab Emirates has just granted the United Parcel Service (UPS) a license to test new cargo aircraft provided by the eVTOL manufacturer BETA.

BETA recently announced its intentions to Focus on Electric Aircraft Certification, an effort which relies on prioritizing the development of its electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft (eCTOL). When UPS starts deploying and testing BETA’s vehicles in the UAE, it will use the CTOL model, called the CX300, before introducing the Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft.

“We’re accelerating our journey to decarbonize the future of flight and these aircraft will help us get there,” said Laura Lane, UPS EVP & Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer. “As a company, we’ve made a commitment to 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. And we’ve set clear goals to get there such as sourcing 30% of aviation fuel from sustainable sources by 2035.”

The two partners are employing the CX300 and Alia 250’s groundbreaking whisper-quiet capability to take off and land directly on UPS property. eVTOLs are an ideal solution for:

• Moving smaller package loads
• Reducing aircraft emissions
• Cutting time-in-transit
• Saving on operating costs

“These incredible aircraft serve as a foundation for future solutions to reduce emissions in our air and ground operations,” said Bala Subramanian, UPS EVP & Chief Digital and Technology Officer. “With the support from the UAE government, we’re excited to focus on innovations that meet the needs of our business, our customers and the environment.”

The license was signed by H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, Bala Subramanian, and Blain Newton, Chief Operating Officer at BETA, and is part of the UAE government’s vision for 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability.’

UPS has a longstanding reputation for pursuing electric vehicles solutions for its logistics services. In 2021, UPS Flight Forward announced plans to purchase eVTOL aircraft to augment our air service, but UPS has been investing in, researching and driving electric vehicles since the 1930s.

Why it’s important: UPS is committed to the electrification of its fleet and has already deployed EV solutions throughout North America, Europe and Asia. This license will further its global reach of carbon footprint minimization as UPS 40% alternative fuel in ground operations by 2025.

Zeva Aero, the previous creator of a disc-shaped personal eVTOL aircraft, has announced that it is now developing an aircraft on a pre-exisiting airframe in order to achieve the most efficient path to commercialization.

Zeva’s new aircraft, named the Argon, is based on a traditional fixed-wing Cessna 162 Skycatcher airframe. To convert the airframe to an eVTOL, Zeva will add supports that host vertical lift propellers to the tops of the wings, which will allow for electrically-powered take-off and landing.

With the vertical lift modifications to the aircraft, it is expected to have a 140mph cruise speed and a range of 330 nautical miles, with full electric vertical take-off and landing capability.

By using the pre-existing airframe rather than creating an entirely new aircraft, Zeva hopes to significantly reduce the time it will take to achieve aircraft certification as well the time it will take to reach the buyer market. The company plans to initially offer the Argon as an Experimental Amateur-Built kit, which it states represents almost 10% of the light aircraft fleet.

Zeva also hopes to maximize flight range while minimizing manufacturing, operational, and maintenance costs. The proven airframe should also provide increased safety as well as consumer confidence in the aircraft.

Although Zeva will now additionally focus on creating the Argon, development will continue on its other aircraft, the Z20. The Z20 has a disc shape, and uniquely, will use its own body shape in order to provide lift in forward flight. Zeva began prototype tests of this aircraft in 2022.

Through their products, Zeva hopes to capture the demand for private-ownership eVTOLs. Learn more about the aircraft on Zeva’s webite.

Why it’s important: This new product by Zeva indicates the company’s intentions to reach the market as soon as possible. By combining a proven and pre-certified airframe with new electric-lift capabilities, the company can provide a unique product that can reach buyers sooner rather than later. Additionally, by offering this aircraft as a kit, the company can save on manufacturing and delivery costs, while still providing an innovative eVTOL product to lead the market.

Source // Zeva Aero

Related:

• ZEVA Completes First eVTOL Test Flight (January 2022)
• ZEVA Aero Merges Assets With FabLab LLC (October 2022)

Wingcopter, a German manufacturer and operator of delivery drones, has announced a new partnership with ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research GmbH to develop a sustainable, hydrogen-based propulsion system for its delivery drones. The goal is to refit the Wingcopter 198, which currently runs on battery power, to fly even more efficiently and with longer range, while still remaining emission-free. The partnership will explore the potential of green hydrogen and the use of compressed gaseous hydrogen in combination with a fuel cell, which has already been used successfully in ZAL’s own ZALbatros hydrogen drone.

The modification of the Wingcopter will take place at ZAL’s Fuel Cell Lab in Hamburg, with the aim of preserving the drone’s unique flight capabilities while incorporating the new hydrogen propulsion system. This development showcases Wingcopter’s commitment to expanding sustainable aviation and creates a potential avenue for increasing the capabilities of its drones. The partnership between Wingcopter and ZAL aligns well with ZAL’s values, as the organization seeks to create innovative solutions for sustainable aviation of all aircraft.

Wingcopter’s CEO, Tom Plümmer, said “We are happy to now explore technical possibilities in the field of hydrogen propulsion together with the ZAL experts and then put the best concept into practice.” Meanwhile, Roland Gerhards, CEO of ZAL GmbH, adds, “With our expertise, we want to convert the Wingcopter to hydrogen and thus strengthen the Hamburg UAM network Windrove with another flagship project.”

As an all-electric delivery drone provider specializing in improving medical supply chains and logistics, Wingcopter has already demonstrated an immense potential impact in improving and saving lives worldwide. The company’s investors include a range of organizations such as REWE Group, Salvia, XAI technologies, and Hessen Kapital III, among others. Meanwhile, ZAL is one of the world’s most modern research facilities for aviation, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure for joint research and development. With this partnership, the two organizations are poised to make strides in the aerial mobility industry, creating more sustainable and efficient solutions for the future.

Why it’s important: This partnership between Wingcopter and ZAL to develop a sustainable hydrogen-based propulsion system for delivery drones demonstrates Wingcopter’s vision for expanding the capabilities of delivery drones with alternate fuel types and increasing performance and efficiency based on mission requirements. Through the partnership, the two companies are positioned to make an immediate impact on the future of sustainable aerial logistics, and bring new innovations in propulsion to the industry.

eVTOL development company Overair announced today the appointment of Tom Whayne as chief financial officer (CFO). As CFO, Whayne will oversee all financial operations and provide strategic guidance to the company as it continues its path toward commercialization.

Whayne joins OverAir having previously served as chief financial officer of OneWeb, where he led the raise of more than $3 billion of capital to fund the company’s development of a global broadband communications constellation in Low Earth Orbit. Most recently, he was senior vice president and chief strategy officer of Maxar Technologies, an Earth intelligence and space infrastructure company.

“We are immensely proud to welcome Tom to the team,” said Ben Tigner, co-founder and CEO of Overair. “His finance and operating background in orbital platform companies positions him perfectly to help Overair prepare for rapid scaling. Tom’s appointment comes at a pivotal time in our company as we build our full-scale Butterfly prototype.”

In addition to Whayne’s tenure at OneWeb and Maxar, he brings over 20 years of experience as an investment banker. Whayne was a managing director at Credit Suisse First Boston, Morgan Stanley, and Rothschild. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard College and a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Adding Whayne to the team solidifies the strength of Overair’s C-suite and continues the momentum of the company which has made significant progress in the development of its Butterfly aircraft, with full-scale propulsion testing completed in the second quarter of 2022 and current execution of its full-scale prototype program in 2023.

Why it’s important: Overair currently markets the Butterfly as the quietest, most robust and largest-capacity production-eVTOL vehicle and intends for their aircraft to have seating for five passengers and a pilot plus a separate large cargo compartment. The appointment of Tom Whayne will help the company stay its course during capital intensive research and development phases on the road to certification of their eVTOL aircraft.

ZeroAvia has announced that it achieved record-breaking performance in testing of its High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) systems.

Above: Zero Avia’s 19-seat hydrogen fuel cell aircraft

Early testing of the pressurized 20kW HTPEM stack power module in ZeroAvia’s UK R&D location has demonstrated a record 2.5 kW/kg specific power at the cell level, paving the way for 3+ kW/kg system level densities in the next 24 months.

ZeroAvia’s team has made unprecedented deep tech breakthroughs by delivering a pressurized HTPEM system, innovative conductive coatings enabling the use of aluminum bipolar plates in highly aggressive HTPEM environments, and a novel approach to advanced membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

Related: ZeroAvia Achieves First Flight of its Hydrogen-Electric Prototype

ZeroAvia’s proprietary technology has been developed over the last three years as part of a concentrated effort to build an in-house portfolio of critical technologies for fuel cell aviation. Further R&D will deliver over 3kW/kg fuel cell system specific power, which enables a step change in performance relative to the traditional fuel cell technologies, making fuel cell propulsion commercially viable for large aircraft. Specifically, the HTPEM systems will be prime candidates to support ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 powertrain for 40-80 seat aircraft, as well as a range of rotorcraft and eVTOL applications. This next generation of fuel cells could also be sufficient to enable electric propulsion systems for 100+ seat single-aisle turbofan aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

The components used in the ZeroAvia system have already been validated through third-party independent testing at several independent labs, including a leading U.S. Department of Energy national lab. The testing confirms the potential for HTPEM systems to accelerate the development of large hydrogen-electric powertrains for large aircraft.

ZeroAvia’s recent breakthrough first flight of a 19-seat aircraft utilized Low Temperature PEM (LTPEM) fuel cell systems. Today’s LTPEM systems work well for the sub-megawatt scale of these smaller aircraft, but the lower stack core temperatures make it harder to remove heat from the larger systems. HTPEM technology eliminates a number of components from the fuel cell system and reduces cooling drag, thereby enabling commercially relevant payload and range for larger aircraft. ZeroAvia’s HTPEM can also offer greater durability, further reducing operating costs for airlines. 

Val Miftakhov, CEO and founder of ZeroAvia, said: “The companies and geographies that seize the lead in high fuel cell temperatures and pressures will lead the industry. This progression is similar to the story of turbine engines, where ever-increasing temperatures and pressures drove higher and higher performance. Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion is the most environmental and economical alternative to existing engines, and HTPEM is the most promising route to delivering these benefits into large aircraft categories. I am confident that what we are demonstrating now is the core building block to delivering zero-emission flight for all categories of aircraft in the long-term.”

Interest in hydrogen combustion power, which differs from the electrically-powered fuel cell solution in ZeroAvia aircraft, has grown considerably in recent months. Hydrogen combustion engines are being developed to remove carbon emissions from flight, but they face the steep environmental penalty of maintaining or increasing the non-CO2 emissions impacts of aviation on the climate. These non-CO2 impacts are thought to have twice the climate impact of carbon emissions alone, according to a report from EASA. A non-combustion, hydrogen-electric approach like ZeroAvia’s eliminates extreme material stresses inherent in modern combustion engines, which dramatically reduces maintenance costs, further improving the economics of the hydrogen-electric propulsion.

Why it’s important: Developing fuel cell technology for aviation is critical to enable true zero-emission commercial flight, and for energy intensive applications – like large fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft – it is necessary to increase the temperature and pressure within fuel cell stacks in order to have a commercially viable product. Increased temperature and pressure allows for air cooling, reduces cooling drag, simplifies the system, and ultimately enables much more demanding applications. Zeroavia’s demonstration of this increase capability is a major milestone in the technological development and points towards a future world of aviation that runs on hydrogen.

Beta Technologies announced recently that they will enhance their focus on the development and certification of a conventional configuration electric aircraft. Beta is labeling the configuration as an eCTOL aircraft (electric conventional takeoff/landing).

The company has been flight testing a conventional fixed-wing version of its eVTOL prototype, which will now become the company’s certification candidate. The aircraft, called CX300, will generate lift from its wings rather than lifting propellers and has already generated orders from the cargo, medical, and defense sectors.

“We continue to progress our ALIA eVTOL design through certification, in harmony with the eCTOL program,” BETA Technologies Founder and CEO Kyle Clark said. “The two aircraft are common in their design, allowing us to economize validation of our high-performance solutions. With the eCTOL aircraft launch, we have further de-risked our path to commercialization and concurrently provide lower cost, more utility, and optionality to operators. This has given us the confidence to industrialize and invest heavily in production at scale over the last year.”

Beta intends to have the CX300 fully certified and ready for delivery by 2025. The company will continue development and certification efforts of its ALIA-250 eVTOL which will be closely based on the design of the CX300.

The company states that manufacturing will begin at the new South Burlington production facility this summer.

Why it matters: Amid regulatory churn and uncertainty over the future market demand and infrastructure required to support the eVTOL space, manufacturers like Beta are taking a middle ground on the innovation curve. By maintaining a conventional fixed wing configuration, operators can take fully advantage of the cost savings from the implantation of an electric aircraft for commercialization, while developers still pursue eVTOL models simultaneously. With planned certification only two years away, Beta has provided itself with a new road to market entry.

Source // Beta Technologies

Related:

SkyDrive, a Japanese eVTOL developer, has announced a partnership with VPorts to establish the world’s first Advanced Aerial Mobility Integrator World Center in Dubai. Taking up 37,000 square meters, the Center will be an operations control hub for Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft in Dubai.

Above: Concept Vertiport by SkyDrive

VPorts Air Traffic Management Inc. (“VPorts”), is a global leader in the design, construction, and operation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure for upcoming vertical aircraft. The company was founded by experts in transportation infrastructure design and construction, city planning, and airport operations and design. The firm’s mission is to “shape the future development of safe advanced air mobility based on sustainable infrastructure.”

According to a recent press release by SkyDrive, the two companies have signed initial agreements to collaborate on the “technical and business” aspects of the upcoming Integrator Center, to leverage its use for the “business
development and market expansion” of both companies. This likely means that SkyDrive will have input into the Center’s design, so that it’s aerial mobility aircraft and flight services can be easily integrated.

Said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, “We are pleased to be taking a part in the UAE government’s strategy for AAM, particularly in Dubai as it is one of the fastest growing and leading AAM markets in the world. we are committed to making AAM transportation affordable to all in a highly accessible way, helping commuters access city centers and mobility hubs. By collaborating with VPorts, we are able to secure an air traffic corridor for our vehicle testing with our eVTOL capabilities which would be essential to ensure its safety before deployment in the urban areas.”  

Featured above is SkyDrive’s latest concept aircraft, the SD-05. This all-electric VTOL will be capable of carrying two passengers semi-autonomously, with air taxi services scheduled to launch in Osaka, Japan in 2025.

Said Dr. Fethi Chebil, CEO and Founder of VPorts, “We welcome SkyDrive to join us in shaping the future of the AAM sector by leveraging the world’s first Integrator Center, including its facilities and airspace. Our presence in Dubai is in line with our strategy and ambition to build and operate 1,500 vertiports around the world by 2045.”

Why it’s important: With this announcement, SkyDrive is making moves to establish itself as an early global leader in Advanced Aerial Mobility. By working with experts like Vports to establish the World Center, SkyDrive has an opportunity to set a global example in aerial mobility infrastructure and supporting operations.

Source // SkyDrive, VPorts

Related:

• SkyDrive brings their eVTOL Aircraft to South Carolina to break into U.S Markets (February 2023)
• SkyDrive Receives Order for up to 100 eVTOLs from Pacific Group (November 2022)
• SkyDrive Ranks Second in World Startup Competition (September 2022)

Adacel Technologies, an air traffic management and ATC simulation and training systems company, announced last week their Aurora ATM system was delivered to Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) and has successfully passed the Site Acceptance Testing.

Seychelles’ new Aurora ATM system, developed to modernize SCAA’s air traffic management system, will enhance ATM service delivery by providing surveillance control with space- and ground-based ADS-B stations. Aurora is a 4D flight profile-based ATM system incorporating all available surveillance sources, with advanced automation capabilities for oceanic, enroute, approach, and tower control.

“We are proud to successfully pass this important milestone with SCAA and look forward to the introduction of the Aurora ATM system into the Seychelles Flight Information Region,” shares Daniel Verret, Adacel’s CEO. “The new system will enhance airspace efficiency, enable higher levels of service to airspace users, and reduce controller workload,” continues Mr. Verret.

Speaking about the implementation of the new Aurora system, SCAA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Garry Albert said: “Reaching this project stage is a great accomplishment for us. By installing this state-of-the-art system, we will modernize the air traffic service to a level that has never been seen before in Seychelles. The collaboration with the professional team from Adacel has ensured that we have one of the most advanced systems. Combining this new technology with SCAA’s well-trained human resources, we will provide an excellent service to our stakeholders from all over the world who fly in our vast oceanic airspace located on the east coast of Africa.”

Why it’s important: The Aurora ATM system is an advancement in modern air traffic control infrastructure which should allow for proving of the system in a lower risk location while also providing data to inform future improved iterations that will be applied not only to fixed wing air traffic but eventually to unmanned aerial mobility service as well. A number of other companies in the air traffic and unmanned air traffic management space are working to further improve their offerings and prepare for increased traffic demands in the future.

Sikorsky has announced plans to build a full scale, autonomous, hybrid-electric technology demonstrator to research commercial and military eVTOL missions. The prototype is dubbed under the program name HEX and will feature a gross weight of more than 7,000 pounds. The uncrewed aircraft will act as a test bed for evaluation of eVTOL aircraft design and propulsion systems. The project also will partner with GE Aerospace and its CT7 turboshaft engine with 1MW-class generator currently under production for the US Army and NASA.

“As Sikorsky celebrates 100 years of flight innovations, it’s fitting to highlight our continued commitment to safe and sustainable transformative flight,” said Paul Lemmo, Sikorsky president. “Sikorsky’s HEX aircraft will provide critical insights into the possibilities of electric systems in VTOL aircraft. Ultimately, we want to show the potential of large, advanced air mobility vehicles to perform utility missions for the U.S. military and transport passengers between cities.”

“Bringing innovative technology is a top priority for GE Aerospace,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “We are committed to developing hybrid electric propulsion systems that save fuel and optimize performance for the military and commercial applications. We are thrilled to build off our existing work with NASA and the Army to offer to power Sikorsky’s HEX aircraft and bolster the future of flight.”

The Sikorsky Innovations prototyping group will head up the HEX project under the direction of Igor Cherepinsky. Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system will control flight aboard the HEX aircraft. Developed and tested extensively over the past decade, the software, hardware and sensors that comprise the MATRIX system have demonstrated high flight reliability in low-altitude and obstacle-rich scenarios. During the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence 2022 exercise, a MATRIX-controlled Black Hawk helicopter without pilots or crew on board demonstrated optionally piloted resupply missions.

Why it matters: Lockheed Martin owned Sikorsky Helicopters is one of the pillars of the helicopter manufacturing industry and their technical expertise on hovercraft will be invaluable for producing an eVTOL prototype. By partnering with GE Aerospace, Sikorsky also gains a reputable partner for its propulsion platform. Expect to see more news as the HEX technology demonstrator is built up and test flown.