Aurora XV-24A LightningStrike (Archived)
Quick Summary
The Aurora LightningStrike is being developed by Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, Virginia. The LightningStrike is a military variant of Aurora's VTOL projects.
Aurora Flight Sciences, based in Manassas, VA, USA.
Stage of Development
Preliminary Design
Prototype Build
Flight Testing
Certification
Commercially Operating
Technical Details
Aircraft Type: Intercity VTOL
Powerplant: Undisclosed, hybrid electric
Range: Undisclosed
Top Speed: > 300 KCAS
Propeller Configuration: 24 ducted fans
Passenger/Payload Capacity: 0 (autonomous)
Autonomy Level: Autonomous
Wingspan/Dimensions: >60ft
Product Overview
LightningStrike is the first aircraft in history designed to demonstrate the following:
- Distributed hybrid-electric propulsion ducted fans
- Innovative synchronous electric-drive system
- Both tilt wing and canard for vertical take-off and landing
- High efficiency in both hover and high-speed forward flight
Program Background
- Created by Aurora Flight Sciences and partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell
- Developed for the Vertical Take-Off and Landing Experimental Aircraft (VTOL X-Plane) program
- Funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Additional Information:
| Fuselage length | > 38 ft | 11.8 m |
| Overall height | ~14 ft | 4.3 m |
| Wingspan | > 60 ft | > 18.2 m |
| Tip-to-tip distance | > 60 ft | > 18.2 m |
| Empty weight | ~ 11,375 lb | ~ 5.16 t |
| Max gross takeoff wt | <13,000 lb | < 5.9 t |
| Useful load | ~ 1,625 lb | ~ 737 kg |
| Cruise speed | > 300 kt | >555 km/h |
| Propulsors | 24 ducted fans | |
| Motor output | 18x 168 hp + 6x 121 hp | 18x 125 kW + 6x 90 kW |
| Power type | hybrid electric | |
| Passenger capacity | 0 | |
| First Flight | 2018 | |
Our Take on the LightningStrike
Aurora Flight Sciences has a large pool of resources at its disposal - even more so following Boeing's purchase of AFS in November of 2017. The LightningStrike concept was a conscientious effort to corner not just the civilian eVTOL/VTOL market, but also the future of military VTOL applications. The LightningStrike completed sub-scale proof of concept test flights before being officially discontinued by AFS.
References
The Latest News from TransportUP
Lockheed Martin Invests in Electric Seagliders from Regent
March 31, 2023Ionblox Completes $24M Series B funding Lead by Lillium
March 30, 2023Archer Completes Wind Tunnel Testing Campaign in Switzerland
March 30, 2023LYTE reveals 40-seat hybrid eVTOL
March 30, 2023Back to The Hangar