As previously announced, Paragon is also part of Siemens’ new Aerospace Startup Program, wherein the company is providing an integrated set of software solutions for Paragon VTOL Aerospace to design, test, produce, and monitor both current and future drone designs. With this partnership, Paragon intends to reduce both time and cost for their product development process, and more quickly bring their products to market.

Why it’s important: As highlighted by Siemens Director of Aerospace & Defense Bobby Blackmon, “the aerospace industry is changing rapidly… companies like Paragon are bringing new, emerging technology to market and changing the way we view the world.” The VTOL manufacturer is well-poised to provide both industrial and passenger services in the not-so-distant future given its partnership with a leading software company and a specialty in providing industry-specific drone hardware which could be used for security, law enforcement, or general transportation.

EHang recently cancelled its Yunfu Investor Day due to the latest tightening COVID-19-related travel and group gathering restrictions by the local governmental authorities following the recent Delta variant outbreak in China. The event was originally scheduled to take place in person at the Company’s new Yunfu production facility on August 18th. As an alternative, the Company has posted a video of the Yunfu production facility in operation for investors’ reference.

The EHang Yunfu production facility is approximately 24,000 square meters in gross floor area to house the major AAV production processes from manufacturing of key components and carbon fiber composite airframes to AAV assembling and flight testing in designated function areas.

In February, EHang had provided an update on the development of its new AAV production facility in Yunfu city, China.  At the time, the retrofitting process of the existing building was being completed and production of EHang AAVs was expected to start in the second quarter of 2021. The facility is now operational and is the assembly site of both the two-seat autonomous 216 multicopters and the longer-range VT30 autonomous lift and cruise aircraft. The vehicles are currently being manufactured at an unspecified rate, but are being completed and flight-tested at the facility’s vertiport depicted below:

Credit // EHang

Why it’s important: As companies such as EHang and Joby begin their forays into the public markets, they are becoming increasingly cognizant of stockholder pressure and perceived financial value. Business decisions are now made with external influence in mind, and how they may affect the company’s stock price as well as public opinions. This press release from EHang exhibits exactly this mentality – while COVID-19 continues to have a persistent impact on public events and the ability of some companies to make consistent forward progress, EHang counters what could have been perceived as negative news with a media release of the progress it has made on its production facility.

Dufour Aerospace has just published specification details on the Aero3, its flagship VTOL tilt-wing aircraft that aims to combine exceptional space, load and range for various transportation missions including most of today’s helicopter applications. This piloted, multi-purpose hybrid aircraft is a successor to the unmanned demonstrator aircraft test flown by Dufour Aerospace since 2020.

A demonstration of the Aero 3’s transition from horizontal to vertical flight. Credit // Dufour Aerospace

Aero3 will feature a decentralized electric main propulsion system of eight motors powering six propellers fixed to the main tilt-wing and two smaller tail propellers. Its large cabin and wide doors allow for a 6- or 8-seat configuration and offer enough space for patient or cargo transport. The design features an exceptional cruise speed of 350 km/h (189 knots) and a range of up to 1020 km (551 nautical miles), Aero3 will be the perfect tool for most VTOL applications.

According to Thomas Pfammatter, CEO and Co-founder of Dufour Aerospace: “The tilt-wing design of Aero3 combines the best of the worlds of helicopters and airplanes – the ability to take off and land like a helicopter and the efficiency and speed of an airplane in cruise flight. It is the perfect tool to serve future Advanced Air Mobility markets because it is efficient and safe. But even while these markets are in their infancy, our product will replace a significant number of today’s light and medium helicopters, as it meets the requirements of today’s operations at much lower costs, more sustainable and will be much quieter. It will seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure and airspace.”

“Our test flights with a large-scale demonstrator and the wind tunnel tests have clearly confirmed the exceptional performance and versatility of the tilt-wing design,” said Jasmine Kent, CTO and Co-founder of Dufour Aerospace. “The results met our high expectations. The tilt-wing is a proven aerodynamic concept with a long history of thousands of flight hours in several projects, such as the inspirational Canadair CL-84, so there are fewer risks than with other VTOL concepts. Now three years into our tilt-wing development programme, we are confident that this aircraft can be built successfully to meet certification requirements.”

Why it’s important: While Aero3 is the flagship of Dufour Aerospace’s tilt-wing product family, the Swiss company is simultaneously and ambitiously working on a smaller, unmanned aircraft named Aero2, using the same aerodynamic and technical principles. Aero2 is designed for logistics applications, inspection, monitoring, mapping, and public safety tasks; this implies that Dufour will have the capability to reach a wide array of markets and potential customers with its suite of products, thereby diversifying its revenue streams. Earlier this year, the company also announced that it received funding from session.vc and existing investors to accelerate growth; these investments have proven to be essential in the progression towards the commercial launch of its versatile (hybrid) eVTOL platform.

Source // Dufour Aerospace press release

uAvionix has conducted a milestone technology demonstration flight at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NP UAS TS) in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  The 40-mile demonstration flight, witnessed by the NP UAS TS leadership team, combined the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) flight control capabilities of the new uAvionix George autopilot with the latest iteration of SkyLine, uAvionix’s purpose-built managed C2 infrastructure using three terrestrial skyStation Ground Radio Systems (GRS).

Credit // uAvionix

The demonstration flight featured the custom uAvionix internal test eVTOL platform autonomously flown by the George autopilot, recently announced in April 2021.  George is a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant autopilot leveraging the world-class Cube core from CubePilot – combining the innovation of open-source autopilot excellence with Design Assurance Level (DAL) C hardware and safety and sensor monitoring for customers seeking Type Certification (TC) and safety case evidence for high-risk operations such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).

In addition to hardening open-source hardware, George sets out to simplify the integration and compatibility complexities that come with enterprise autopilots and flight avionics. With the entire uAvionix product lineup at George’s disposal, including Low-SWaP Certified Transponders, purpose-built C2 Radios, ADS-B Detect and Avoid solutions, the soon-to-be certified truFYX GPS, and not to mention support for hundreds of third-party components.

uAvionix’s most recent North Dakota flight demonstration differed from its previous flights, as it was the first public demonstration of three SkyStation terrestrial ground radio locations managed by SkyLine, uAvionix’s purpose-built command and control network for UAS, which powered the fully autonomous 40-mile Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight.

Each ground radio was monitored and coordinated through the uAvionix cloud-based SkyLine managed C2 service. SkyLine monitors the connectivity, signal strength, and quality from microLink, our redundant Airborne Radio System onboard the eVTOL, to manage make-before-break seamless transitions between ground radio locations. Engineers onsite, along with dozens around the world, watched as the SkyLine system determined which of the three ground stations provided the most robust connection completely autonomously and independent of the pilot in command. 

Why it’s important: uAvionix sees SkyLine as a key component to the future of BVLOS flight for UAS. SkyLine doesn’t rely on consumer-grade networks but rather is its own purpose-built airborne network, partitioned to provide not just quality of service, but integrity of service. With a dense ground network of skyStations and SkyLine managing the network integrity and aircraft, the possibilities are limitless for safe, trusted, large-scale fleet management, including package delivery, inspections, Urban Air Mobility, and more.

Source // uAvionix press release

Lilium has engaged with Honeywell, a world-leading manufacturer of electronics, engines, and mechanical systems for aircraft, to develop the 7-Seater Lilium eVTOL Jet’s avionics and flight control systems. Honeywell’s Compact Fly-by-Wire System will act as the flight control system on the all-electric 7-Seater Lilium Jet, responsible for controlling its moveable parts, including the 36 control surfaces and ducted fans that provide its high levels of maneuverability in every stage of flight.

Credit // Lilium

Honeywell, one of the first major aerospace manufacturers to create a dedicated Urban Air Mobility business unit, has designed a flight control system that draws on its decades of experience providing such systems for commercial airliners. This system, which has been tailored for the Lilium Jet’s unique design, will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth, comfortable, and emission-free air travel for passengers.

Yves Yemsi, Chief Program Officer at Lilium highlights that “Honeywell will integrate an advanced flight deck tailored for Lilium Jet as the central interface to the pilot with a vehicle management computer and a high integrity flight controls computing platform to provide a state-of-the-art Fly-By-Wire solution for the Lilium Jet.”

Alongside the flight control system, Honeywell is delivering the next generation of integrated avionics systems, which will provide a simplified user interface for the pilot to fly the Lilium Jet. The selection of Honeywell’s next-generation UAM avionics system is the result of ongoing collaboration between Lilium and Honeywell to converge on the specific technical requirements suitable for the Lilium Jet. The avionics system is designed to reduce training time and will support operation by a single pilot, freeing up greater passenger capacity.

“At Honeywell, we believe in the promise of the Urban Air Mobility segment and we see the enormous potential it has to bring about a new age of aviation and forever transform the way we think about flight and transportation,” said Stéphane Fymat, vice president and general manager of Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell. “Lilium shares that vision with us, which has enabled us to forge a fantastic relationship. We’re extremely excited for our avionics to be on board the Lilium Jet, where they will help ensure not only safe operation, but also make it easier for pilots to fly and provide a more comfortable journey for those onboard.”

In addition to its selection as a provider of the flight control system for the 7-Seater Lilium Jet, Honeywell is also participating in the common stock PIPE offering in connection with Lilium’s SPAC transaction, and is providing similar systems to Pipistrel, Vertical Aerospace, and Volocopter.

Following Toray Industries, Aciturri, and Lufthansa Aviation Training, Honeywell is the latest in a series of world-class Lilium suppliers whose technology and services have been certified in aerospace around the world for decades. They are joined by infrastructure leaders, such as the Tavistock Development Company, and Ferrovial, a leading airport operator, who have provided approximately $200 million in commitments to support the development of up to 14 eVTOL ertiports in Florida.

Why it’s important: As stated by Yemsi, “the avionics and flight control computers from Honeywell will be a key element for the Lilium Jet’s electronic architecture.” Honeywell has a decades-long track record of developing and certifying avionics and safety systems for leading aerospace companies, and is quickly becoming a leader in eVTOL aerial mobility technology by providing these advanced systems to many rapidly evolving top aerial mobility companies.

Joby Aviation (“Joby”), a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced it has partnered with REEF Technology (“REEF”) and Neighborhood Property Group (“NPG”) to develop takeoff and landing sites for its aerial ridesharing service, launching in 2024.

REEF is the country’s largest parking garage operator focused on transforming these underutilized assets into multi-use mobility hubs. REEF’s assets include more than 5,000 sites across North America and Europe and reach more than 70 percent of the American public.

NPG is a real estate acquisition company affiliated with REEF for the targeted acquisition of mobility hubs across the United States.

Joby Aviation’s Prototype S4 aircraft. Image // Joby

Through the partnership, Joby gains access to an unparalleled range of rooftop locations across all key metropolitan areas in the US, as well as a mechanism to fund the acquisition and development of new skyport sites. The companies will focus initially on Los Angeles, Miami, and the New York and San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan areas.

“This is a landmark deal on Joby’s path to building a transformational ridesharing service in our skies,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO at Joby Aviation. “NPG and REEF have an unbeatable network of sites across the US and we’re excited to be working with them to identify sites that will become the backbone of our future service.

“Parking structures are ideal locations for us as they allow us to deliver our customers as close to their destination as possible, while minimizing any local impact and reducing the need for building new infrastructure.”

Philippe Saint-Just, co-founder of REEF, said: “With our focus on transforming urban spaces into community hubs that enable the future of mobility, aerial ridesharing is a compelling opportunity for us to decarbonize travel and make better use of structures such as parking garages. 

A conceptualization of a vertiport that would be constructed as part of the new agreement.

Under the agreement, Joby will enjoy a period of exclusivity during which it can secure long-term rooftop leases on skyport sites within NPG and REEF’s network of parking garages.

Joby intends to offer a passenger service, accessible via an app, that offers riders a faster, emissions-free way to move distances of 5-150 miles in congested metropolitan areas at an accessible price point.

In December 2020, Joby announced the acquisition of Uber Elevate, integrating the team’s data, modeling, and insight into site selection.

As part of the deal, Uber and Joby also agreed to integrate their services into each other’s apps, helping to create a seamless customer experience where an Uber car would bring riders to a skyport just in time for their flight and, if necessary, another car would complete the journey to their final destination.

In addition to working with NPG and REEF to identify parking structure locations, Joby’s aerial ridesharing network will tap into more than 5,000 existing heliports and regional airports across the US.

Related: In February, Joby announced it had entered into a business combination agreement with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company, which will see the combined company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The transaction will provide Joby with approximately $1.6 billion in gross proceeds and will see the combined company valued at $6.6 billion post-money equity value.

Why it’s important: With an aircraft that is expected to be more than 100 times quieter than a conventional helicopter, Joby sees a significant opportunity to capitalize on underutilized parking garages as vertical takeoff and landing sites. Garages are particularly well-suited to hosting skyports, as they are typically located near popular destinations, have adequate space to host customers, flight operations, and aircraft charging. Additionally, they do not require structural reinforcement to support air taxi services, and provide obstruction-free approach and departure paths that minimize noise to the surrounding community.

Source // Joby Press release

DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, has signed a long-term agreement with aerospace leader Honeywell, establishing an alliance focused on electric propulsion units to meet new aerospace needs. Drawing from their automotive and aerospace backgrounds, the companies will develop and manufacture electric propulsion systems for aircraft, initially prioritizing the urban air mobility (UAM) segment with a focus on air taxis and delivery vehicles. The formal alliance follows the companies’ initial teaming agreement announced in 2019.

DENSO and Honeywell are in advanced discussions with current and prospective customers and intend to deliver flight test configurations of the electric propulsion systems within the next year. This focus on electrified power sources will not only help the companies fulfill UAM’s promise of providing cleaner, safer, more efficient, quieter and freer-moving transportation in and between cities, but also strengthen each company’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.

Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU) equipped in the propeller section of both wings. Credit // DANSO, Honeywell

“Mobility needs are changing and this collaboration represents how DENSO is evolving to meet them,” said Jiro Ebihara, a senior executive officer and head of the Electrification Systems Business Group at DENSO Corporation. “While we have committed to achieve a carbon-neutral society, we still need to reduce traffic and offer eco-friendly movement in population-dense areas. Working with Honeywell will help address both these issues and furthers our goal of creating mobility that is green and offers peace of mind.”

The alliance with Honeywell enhances DENSO’s Second Founding, the company’s strategy to provide value beyond a vehicle-centric focus and produce the core technologies for future mobility. It also bolsters DENSO’s two great causes: “Green” – acting environmentally friendly – and “Peace of Mind” – creating a safer and more seamless world for all. These guide DENSO as it leverages its 30-plus years of electrification know-how to create cleaner, more efficient mobility and will help the company reach its 2035 goal to be carbon neutral. Honeywell has also pledged to be carbon neutral in its facilities and operations by 2035. The two companies plan on working together to “seek customers who can help transform how the world moves, making transportation safer, more sustainable and efficient.”

Why it’s important: DENSO’s ability to produce quality components at mass scale paired with Honeywell’s storied aerospace expertise makes for an alliance ready to take UAM to new heights. Additionally, the alliance’s electric propulsion systems will integrate seamlessly with Honeywell’s fly-by-wire, avionics and actuation systems, extracting the most thrust and lift from every watt of electricity. Honeywell has already formed numerous partnerships and contracts with OEMs including Pipistrel and Vertical Aerospace after the creation of its new aerial mobility business unit, which demonstrates the company’s bullish outlook and commitment to the budding industry.

Source // DENSO, Honeywell press release

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has granted Bell a $950,000 contract to conduct applied research into a high-speed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

Few details have been disclosed regarding “Bell’s High Speed VTOL (HSVTOL),” as it is referred to in the contract notice. However, the research contract comes several months after the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) said it was looking ahead for a VTOL aircraft with “jet speeds” to replace its Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor.

Diagram from Bell’s “Active Sail Blade” application published in December 2020. Source // Bell

Bell has been exploring aircraft that can take off vertically using tiltrotors, but then fly forward in cruise mode using thrust from jet engines, according to patent applications published between 2017 and 2020 by the US and European patent offices. Rotor blades would fold back to reduce drag during forward jet-powered flight.

“During operation as a turbofan engine, the bypass fan produces a bypass airflow to provide thrust to the aircraft,” explains a Bell patent application published by the European Patent Office in April 2020. “During operation as a turboshaft engine, the bypass airflow produced by the bypass fan is blocked, allowing other aircraft systems to utilize the power produced by the convertible engine via the power output shaft.”

Lieutenant General James Slife is the commander of AFSOC, and recently explained “we’re looking at a generational movement for vertical take-off and landing capability going into the future. I think it’ll probably be something quite different than the V-22.” Meanwhile, Bell is also pursuing development of the V-280 Valor for the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault program, which will have a cruise speed of 280 kts, only 29 kts faster than the CV-22 Osprey. However, the AFSOC has its sights set on a vehicle capable of “jet speeds” so it is unlikely that technology from the V-280 will be applied to Bell’s HSVTOL.

Why it’s important: The research Bell is conducting has potential to immensely grow the realm of possibilities for commercial aerial mobility. By optimizing vehicle design for higher speeds through the cruise phase of flight, eVTOL operators will have the option to connect passengers to further away destinations. Ultimately, the technology Bell is developing is ideal for bridging the regional mobility gap in the current air transportation industry.

Source // FlightGlobal