Hatzolah Air to Receive 4 CityHawk Aircraft from Urban Aeronautics for EMS Services
Urban Aeronautics has reached an agreement with Hatzolah Air to provide four CityHawk VTOL aircraft for EMS applications. Additionally, Hatzolah Air will serve as Urban Aeronautics’ official sales representative and distribution channel to other EMS and rescue organizations worldwide. This agreement builds upon the MOU that the two companies reached in August of 2020, in order to develop, produce, and...

Hatzolah Air to Receive 4 CityHawk Aircraft from Urban Aeronautics for EMS Services

Urban Aeronautics has reached an agreement with Hatzolah Air to provide four CityHawk VTOL aircraft for EMS applications. Additionally, Hatzolah Air will serve as Urban Aeronautics’ official sales representative and distribution channel to other EMS and rescue organizations worldwide. This agreement builds upon the MOU that the two companies reached in August of 2020, in order to develop, produce, and market the CityHawk aircraft for EMS applications.
The CityHawk’s design is well-suited for EMS services and aerial mobility, both of which prefer small, lightweight, VTOL vehicles. The CityHawk is a twin-engine VTOL aircraft that utilizes jet propulsion and features Urban Aeronautics’ internal rotor Fancraft technology which implementes powerful ducted fans and possesses superior control, stability, speed, safety, noise reduction, and sustainability. One of the main advantages that the CityHawk will hold over conventional EMS aircraft such as rescue helicopters is the size; the CityHawk is comparable in size but can hold 20% to 30% more in the cabin, and lower noise pollution. Urban Aeronautics plans to finish the development of the CityHawk, achieve FAA certification for EMS use, and be ready for commercial production within three to five years.
The CityHawk currently incorporates two SAFRAN Arriel 2N helicopter engines, 2 x 985 SHP. The 2N features a new axial compressor, a new HP compressor diffuser, new HP turbine blade material, and a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control linked to a modernized fuel system.
Hatzolah Air is a 501c3 Disaster Response Organization that assists with urgent and emergent calls for help for patients and those in need. Currently, Hatzolah Air utilizes fixed-wing aircraft for Hatzolah’s urgent and emergent missions. Urban Aeronautics’ engineers will be working closely with Hatzolah’s experts to tailor the CityHawk flying ambulance for Hatzolah’s operations, where it will accommodate a pilot, as well as a patient, companion, two EMS personnel, and will include a complete suite of onboard life support equipment.
Why it’s important: Urban Aeronautics has had a long track record of successful VTOL development, starting with the Cormorant. This agreement allows Urban Aeronautics to gain a foothold in the EMS service industry, and hopefully display the full potential of the CityHawk once finished.
Source // Green Car Congress
2021 Expected to Bring New Wave of eVTOL Aircraft
With the sudden unexpected onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the aerial mobility sector was very much in question during early mid-2020. According to a recent article from AIN Online, with the start of a new year, while the general fallout from the pandemic did hinder some progress from smaller aerial mobility companies, several notable aerial mobility firms...

2021 Expected to Bring New Wave of eVTOL Aircraft

With the sudden unexpected onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the aerial mobility sector was very much in question during early mid-2020. According to a recent article from AIN Online, with the start of a new year, while the general fallout from the pandemic did hinder some progress from smaller aerial mobility companies, several notable aerial mobility firms such as Volocopter, Lilium, and Joby Aviation continued to forge ahead.
The start of a new year could see several companies pull ahead from the rest, as the consensus among independent observers seems to be that no more than a dozen or so of these new aircraft will see the commercial light of day. As the pandemic dies down during the course of this year, there will also be more scrutiny as to whether many of these aircraft developers will meet the timelines proposed when first introducing their aircraft; the earliest dates for commercial release is near the end of 2023, just 24 months away.

Joby Aviation acquired Uber Elevate near the end of 2020, as one of the major events of the aerial mobility industry
2021 will also likely clarify the regulatory outlook for these new aerial mobility aircraft, giving developers a clearer path to type certification. As 2020 closed, there were reasons for optimism that leading regulators FAA and EASA were edging closer to defining safety means of compliance to cover new architectures and propulsion systems. While the consensus for approval of operation for these new aircraft are not yet resolved, optimism is high.
The continued development of the aerial mobility industry also saw a slight shift in focus away from solely focusing on urban air mobility models, as several companies began looking at a broader range of applications that may be easier to implement in the short-term, such as operations in less densely populated areas for emergency medical support or freight deliveries. These applications also seem to favor fixed-wing designs using conventional or hybrid propulsion for which the technology risks of getting to market are lower. It also saw the more inclusive designation advanced air mobility increasingly vie for favor with the more specific urban air mobility.

Lilium stays as one of the most promising aerial mobility companies to enter 2021.
Another trend to be alert to is more of the long-anticipated consolidation involving start-ups either being acquired by larger entities with deeper pockets or disappearing after running out of financial runway. 2020 began with Japanese carmaker Toyota spending $394 million to partially acquire Joby Aviation as part of a $590 million Series C funding round. No sooner had that happened than Korean rival Hyundai announced it had allocated $1.5 billion to buy a place in the eVTOL stakes with a direct investment in a new aircraft program. This trend seems likely to continue.

Hyundai joins in the race to develop the aerial mobility sector, and looks to only improve in 2021.
Why it’s important: 2020 brought many changes to the aerial mobility industry, and 2021 looks to be similar. With the COVID pandemic as well as the general growth of the aerial mobility industry, we are quickly seeing how the aerial mobility industry develops, as well as which companies look to be the most promising.
Source // AIN Online
Metro Hop’s eSTOL Plane: An Alternative Solution
While the majority of aerial mobility companies have chosen a VTOL frame for their aircraft design, Metro Hop is working on an eSTOL (electric short takeoff and landing) design that could serve as a practical alternative to eVTOL. Metro Hop’s STOL design revolves around a “game-changing international patent pending Active Landing Gear system” that is used to vastly increase the...

Metro Hop’s eSTOL Plane: An Alternative Solution

While the majority of aerial mobility companies have chosen a VTOL frame for their aircraft design, Metro Hop is working on an eSTOL (electric short takeoff and landing) design that could serve as a practical alternative to eVTOL.
Metro Hop’s STOL design revolves around a “game-changing international patent pending Active Landing Gear system” that is used to vastly increase the initial acceleration to flight speed on takeoff and quickly decelerate the aircraft on landing. The Active Landing Gear system paired with the large wings of the design would mean that Metro Hop’s aircraft would only need a 25 m (82 ft) rollout rubber runway for operations. Fixed wing take-off and landings require drastically less energy usage versus VTOL, which in turn noticeably decreases energy use for the same journey. While electric VTOL is incredibly innovative, many designs are fairly low range and/or energy inefficient on take-off and landing as a result of the high energy outputs required for vertical flight. Metro Hop even mentions that its short runways could be easily adapted onto large urban rooftops, much like VTOL designs.
The Metro Hop aircraft will be able to reach a cruising speed of up to 400 km/hr (250 mph) and have a 200 km (125 miles) range with current battery technology. The Northern California based aviation startup considers their STOL aircraft as an alternative, not a replacement, approach for VTOL aerial mobility, given some limitations that fixed wing does create. The developers suggest that STOL runways around 60 m (200 ft) long on top of skyscrapers could enable safe Skyport-style passenger operations with a much lower energy cost than eVTOL vertiports. However, many buildings don’t have rooftops quite that large, making market for both kinds of aircraft.
Currently, Metro Hop has received grants through the ESA (European Space Agency) BIC Bavaria, and is looking for more investors.
Why it’s important: The eSTOL design’s biggest advantage is its energy efficiency over many equivalent eVTOL designs. Although not all rooftops could support the 25 meters required for the Metro Hop eSTOL, many can, giving Metro Hop an obvious use case for middle mile transportation. A Metro Hop eSTOL could affordably transport goods 20x faster than could be done with trucks stuck traffic. Metro Hop intends to initially enter the middle mile cargo transportation industry with a piloted aircraft, and has already received interest from multiple hospitals, which need a wide range of equipment available quickly from warehouses.
Source // Metro Hop, Inceptive Mind
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Announces Urban Air Mobility Partnership
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the creation of the Urban Air Mobility Partnership, an initiative that will help shape Los Angeles into one of the cities at the forefront of aerial mobility. Part of a public-private partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), and Urban Movement Labs (UML), the Urban Air Mobility Partnership was...

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Announces Urban Air Mobility Partnership

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the creation of the Urban Air Mobility Partnership, an initiative that will help shape Los Angeles into one of the cities at the forefront of aerial mobility. Part of a public-private partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), and Urban Movement Labs (UML), the Urban Air Mobility Partnership was formed in order to educate and engage LA’s residents with the idea of introducing aerial mobility by 2023.

Los Angeles and Urban Movement Labs will lead a multi-stakeholder effort to visualize a vertiport and help Los Angeles identify and resolve challenges identified by local, diverse stakeholders surrounding public airspace and property rights.
“Los Angeles is where we turn today’s ideas into tomorrow’s reality — a place where a barrier-breaking concept like urban air mobility can truly get off the ground,” said Mayor Garcetti. “The Urban Air Mobility Partnership will make our city a force for cleaner skies, safer transportation, expanded prosperity, and stunning innovation, and provide a template for how other local governments can take this new technology to even greater heights.”
Working together, Los Angeles and Urban Movement Labs will lead a multi-stakeholder effort to visualize a vertiport and help Los Angeles identify and resolve challenges identified by local, diverse stakeholders surrounding public airspace and property rights. This one year partnership will also develop a policy toolkit that will be able to be utilized and deployed nationwide.
With financial backing from the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group, UML will also work together with Estolano Advisors to hire an Urban Air Mobility Fellow who will work towards advancing a comprehensive public engagement strategy for aerial mobility, including how it will strengthen the local economy, the schedule for when vehicles will take flight, and how it will impact and improve the local citizens’ daily lives.
“Now more than ever, with so many suffering the impacts of a devastating pandemic, Los Angeles needs a resilient transportation network that can adapt to the needs of its communities with the flip of a switch,” said LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. “As we prepare to include [aerial mobility] as a viable option for moving goods and people across our City, it is critical that we hear from stakeholders and design a system that works for all Angelenos.”
Why it’s important: With the city of Los Angeles now officially working towards this development, the Urban Air Mobility Partnership will set a powerful precedent for how diverse stakeholders can collaborate on a safe, community-centered approach to integrating aerial mobility technology into existing and new multimodal platforms.
Source // sUAS News
Volocopter’s Initial Round of VoloFirst Flights in Singapore Sold Out
After committing to launching a commercial eVTOL platform in Singapore within the next two to three years, Volocopter has now announced that advance tickets for their eVTOL flight service, VoloFirst, have officially sold out. The VoloFirst flights, priced at $365 USD per ticket (€300), will consist of a short scenic routes, a 10-15 minute flight “over the Southern waters, offering...

Volocopter’s Initial Round of VoloFirst Flights in Singapore Sold Out

After committing to launching a commercial eVTOL platform in Singapore within the next two to three years, Volocopter has now announced that advance tickets for their eVTOL flight service, VoloFirst, have officially sold out. The VoloFirst flights, priced at $365 USD per ticket (€300), will consist of a short scenic routes, a 10-15 minute flight “over the Southern waters, offering breathtaking views of the Marina Bay skyline.” The initial VoloFirst flights are expected to commence sometime in 2023.
The German aviation startup has been doing intensive work in Singapore for some time now, making strides in development and successfully performing several test flights, including a high-profile manned flight in late 2019. While Singapore is relatively untroubled by traffic congestion relative to other major urban centers (which is arguably the biggest driving factor for the rapid growth of the aerial mobility industry), the island-city state holds plenty of potential capital, as well as a strong tech research sector, both factors which seem to be leading Singapore to become a very valuable benefactor for Volocopter.

Volocopter conceptual design. The company also recently performed a successful manned flight test in late 2019. Photograph: Volocopter
According to Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter, “Singapore is renowned for its leading role in adapting and living new technologies. Our successful cooperation with the Economic Development Board, Ministry of Transport, and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore on our previous flight has shown that there is no better place in Asia to launch our electric air taxi services than in Singapore. The city’s research institutes conducting R&D play an integral part in this. Topics like route validation for autonomous operations, material science, and research regarding battery technology are very important for our long-term business success.”
In order to meet their deadline of just 3 years, Volocopter intends to build up a team of more than 200 in the coming years, and remains confident that they will be able to reach their goal on schedule. As of now, the biggest obstacle in Volocopter’s path is certification, not only with EASA authorities, but local Singaporean authorities as well before Volocopter will be able to service passengers. However with the relative simplicity of Volocopter’s design, especially in comparison to the designs of other competitors, it could be entirely possible to see eVTOLs ferrying tourists and early adopters alike in 2023.
Why it’s important: Volocopter’s declaration of getting a commercial aerial mobility platform up and running in three years is an aggressive one, but is far from improbable. Considering both the simplicity of Volocopter’s eVTOL design as well as the expectation that initial flights will resemble tourist rides more than an actual method of commute, Volocopter’s goal is ambitious, but definitely possible. Volocopter’s aggressive approach is also completely understandable. Successfully getting their eVTOL platform up and running would have Volocopter passing one of the biggest milestones in the aerial mobility sector and be years ahead of most competitors.
Source // New Atlas
Tangram Flex Lands Agility Prime Contract
Tangram Flex, Inc. has recently been awarded with a contract to support the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative. Based in Dayton, Ohio, Tangram Prime will primarily focus on how “flying cars could rewrite how the Air Force and civil society do logistics and transportation.” The contract will mainly focus on support for lower cost testing, verification, and validation of...

Tangram Flex Lands Agility Prime Contract

Tangram Flex, Inc. has recently been awarded with a contract to support the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative. Based in Dayton, Ohio, Tangram Prime will primarily focus on how “flying cars could rewrite how the Air Force and civil society do logistics and transportation.”
The contract will mainly focus on support for lower cost testing, verification, and validation of software components for Agility Prime vehicles. According to Rick Peters, Tangram chief executive, “We are thrilled to continue supporting the Air Force on their most critical initiatives. Our team will continue efforts to commercialize tools for safe, secure, and efficient development and rapid integration of mission-critical capabilities with confidence.”
Agility Prime is the USAF’s initiative to develop and promote eVTOL aircraft and the aerial mobility industry, aiding companies in this pursuit. According to Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, “Despite COVID-19, we’re still very optimistic about the future, specifically around flying cars and how they might help the military and the world produce better logistics, better medical support and better disaster relief. We really want to be engaged in this emerging market in a very different way.”
Why it’s important: The U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative shows a strong commitment to the development of the aerial mobility industry in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefits of being able to obtain contracts across both military and commercial sectors cannot be understated, especially for companies in a small but growing industry such as aerial mobility.
Source // Dayton Daily News
AMSL Aero Reveals Full-Scale Prototype: Vertiia
AMSL Aero has unveiled the latest results of the development in their eVTOL aircraft, a full-scale prototype vehicle called the Vertiia. The Vertiia will be able to fly up to 800 km (500 miles) on hydrogen, and will start out as an air ambulance. Developed in conjunction with the University of Sydney and Mission Systems, AMSL Aero’s Vertiia is a...

AMSL Aero Reveals Full-Scale Prototype: Vertiia

AMSL Aero has unveiled the latest results of the development in their eVTOL aircraft, a full-scale prototype vehicle called the Vertiia. The Vertiia will be able to fly up to 800 km (500 miles) on hydrogen, and will start out as an air ambulance. Developed in conjunction with the University of Sydney and Mission Systems, AMSL Aero’s Vertiia is a transitioning multirotor eVTOL, with eight large propellers mounted on two wide carbon fiber poles extending from the upper tail and lower front of the fuselage. According to AMSL Aero, the Vertiia is rated to cruise at around 300 km/h (186 mph) and it’ll be piloted on debut, but will have autonomous capabilities built in, ready to come online when such things become legal.
The Vertiia will initially possess a range of around 250 km (155 miles) using battery-powered technology that’ll require long charges between flights. Eventually, AMSL Aero plans on extending the range to 800 km (500 miles) by replacing the batteries with a hydrogen powertrain, which will also enable quicker refueling.
The Vertiia’s first consumer will be CareFlight, an aeromedical company that looks to use eVTOL as an air ambulance, providing aerial access to remote communities may not have the ability to receive conventional medical aircraft. AMSL Aero plans to have the Vertiia commercially available by 2023.
Why it’s important: With the completion of a full-scale prototype, AMSL Aero has reached an important milestone in the development of the Vertiia, and can now begin flight tests in earnest. AMSL Aero has big plans for the Vertiia, aiming for both autonomous capability and hydrogen-powered flight in the future. While implementing these features as well as obtaining certification by 2023 will be no easy task, AMSL Aero’s current progress rate is an encouraging indicator of their future outlook.
Source // New Atlas
uAvionix Announces Participation in Deployment of Vantis, North Dakota’s UAS System
uAvionix announced that they will be participating in the deployment of Vantis, North Dakota’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) infrastructure and network. A partner of Thales’ TopSky Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platform, uAvionix will provide infrastructural support to Vantis through the deployment of terrestrial command and control (C2) infrastructure and a cloud-based C2 service, enabling...

uAvionix Announces Participation in Deployment of Vantis, North Dakota’s UAS System

uAvionix announced that they will be participating in the deployment of Vantis, North Dakota’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) infrastructure and network. A partner of Thales’ TopSky Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platform, uAvionix will provide infrastructural support to Vantis through the deployment of terrestrial command and control (C2) infrastructure and a cloud-based C2 service, enabling centralized management, coordination, and C2 handoffs. The successful integration of the C2 system into Vantis is an important first step for the goal of eventually introducing UAS systems into global airspace, a milestone that will be vital for integrating aerial mobility into the transportation sector.
Led by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the deployment of Vantis will enable future BVLOS missions across the key-site deployment area of McKenzie County, ND. A key part of that ability will come from the uAvionix’s C2 service, which will be able to monitor overall system performance, the health and signal strength of each radio on the network, location monitoring and tracking, and centralized control.
The C2 service leverages uAvionix’s microLink Airborne Radio Systems (ARS) and skyStation Ground Radio Systems (GRS) developed to ASTM standards. microLink and skyStation are dual-architecture MIMO digital frequency hopping radios which enable intelligent make-before-break (MBB) transitions from one GRS to the next in long-range operations, enhancing the overall safety case.
In addition to the C2 service, uAvionix will additionally contribute to the overall low-altitude airspace surveillance picture through the deployment of its pingStation networkable ADS-B receivers.
“Thales is excited to partner with uAvionix in North Dakota to deploy a BVLOS C2 network infrastructure and service,” said Frank Matus, Director of Digital Aviation Market Development for Thales. “uAvionix achievements in the areas of surveillance and TSO avionics is instrumental in addressing the command and communications challenges faced by the emerging UAS industry in North Dakota and across the national airspace system.”
Why it’s important: Vantis represents both an exciting possibility on its own as well as the future of UAS integration into global airspace. With this, uAvionix advances its mission to overcome operational and technical challenges of UAS integration into global airspace by providing networks with infrastructure and certified low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) avionics for mission-critical applications.
Source // uAvionix Press Release (11/19/2020)
The CaravellAir: Caravella Aerospace’s Proof-of-Concept Roadable Aircraft
Caravella Aerospace is in the process of developing a 2-seater partially electric roadable aircraft, the CaravellAir. (A “roadable aircraft” is a combination vehicle that combines an aircraft’s ability of flight with the on-road driving capabilities of an automobile.) According to Joe Caravella Jr, owner of Caravella Aerospace, “The CaravellAir integrates car, plane, and motorcycle components into one vehicle that can...

The CaravellAir: Caravella Aerospace’s Proof-of-Concept Roadable Aircraft

Caravella Aerospace is in the process of developing a 2-seater partially electric roadable aircraft, the CaravellAir. (A “roadable aircraft” is a combination vehicle that combines an aircraft’s ability of flight with the on-road driving capabilities of an automobile.) According to Joe Caravella Jr, owner of Caravella Aerospace, “The CaravellAir integrates car, plane, and motorcycle components into one vehicle that can drive or fly on demand.”
Located in Sherman Oaks, California, Caravella Aerospace has developed a one-seater prototype of the CaravellAir that has been street legal for over 8 years, and road tested for over 3000 miles from San Diego to San Francisco. For its powertrain, the CaravellAir prototype has a propeller drive system that is connected to a motorcycle engine that can push the fuselage above 80 mph (129 kph) on an active runway testing back to 2015. The fuselage itself (coupled with mock-up flight surfaces) is flight ready, and has successfully demonstrated real-world road operations up to 70 mph (113 kph). Caravella Aerospace is currently working on development of the CaravellAir flight surfaces.

Caravella Aerospace has developed a proof-of concept version of the CaravellAir that has been street legal for over 8 years, and road tested for over 3000 miles from San Diego to San Francisco. Photograph: Caravella Aerospace
Recently, Caravella Aerospace presented its proof-of-concept prototype at the SAE 2020 AeroTech Digital Summit in June of 2020. Joe Caravella Jr. described the CaravellAir prototype as “a proof-of-concept and stepping stone to a future 2-seat certified, partially-electric vehicle.”
Why it’s important: While the CaravellAir is still in the early proof-of-concept stage, its folding wing design is quite sound, and has even been flight proven on aircraft such as the Terrafugia Transition. In addition, the CaravellaAir has showed impressive progress in roadworthiness certification, something which many other roadable aircraft concepts have not yet achieved. If CaravellAir successfully finishes development through flight testing, certification, and production, the result will be an affordable, efficient aircraft that will add greatly to the growing market for privately owned roadable aircraft.
Source // Caravella Aerospace
Pegasus Vertical Business Jet Receives Positive Response from Global Market
According to Pegasus Universal Aerospace CEO, Robbie Irons, the company’s debut of its vertical takeoff and landing business jet has received a very positive response from the global market, receiving interest from corporate, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and other market sectors. Inquiries have come from countries and clients around the world to use the Pegasus Vertical Business Jet (VBJ)...

Pegasus Vertical Business Jet Receives Positive Response from Global Market

According to Pegasus Universal Aerospace CEO, Robbie Irons, the company’s debut of its vertical takeoff and landing business jet has received a very positive response from the global market, receiving interest from corporate, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and other market sectors. Inquiries have come from countries and clients around the world to use the Pegasus Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) for purposes such as business transport, border control, policing, oil and gas and cargo applications, amongst others. As of now, Pegasus will focus primarily on the corporate applications for the VBJ, with its main goal being to achieve FAA/EASA certification.
The VBJ is currently in the concept validation and prototype build phase, with simulation results being validated through scale model testing. According to Irons, the scale model prototype has “achieved perfect stability and gave Pegasus confidence that with a custom controller and the increase in power to weight ratio when scaling the aircraft up to quarter scale, stability will be achieved successfully”. If funding and development milestones are reached without issue, Pegasus expects the VBJ to attain certification by 2025/2027. “Our biggest focus at this moment in time is to secure our strategic funding partner for Pegasus by the end of 2020 as it will ultimately determine the pace at which the VBJ development programme moves forward,” Irons stated.
The design of the VBJ is complex, and for that reason Pegasus is working with several OEMs including Epsilon Engineering to aid with the development process. “The Pegasus VBJ provides a hybrid propulsion solution and although we address all the performance capabilities of the eVTOL sector, we provide substantially more,” said Irons, “The VBJ falls into the VTOL segment with a maximum takeoff weight of 5700 kg (Part 23 & Part 29 certification), serving longer range needs, offering more passengers onboard, single pilot operation with dual pilot capability, higher airspeeds, and higher altitudes with multiple enhanced safety and redundancy measures in accessing heliports, helipads and conventional runways.”
Why it’s important: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the aviation industry, Pegasus has been able to remain firmly on track and is negotiating with many high-level investors and OEMs to support and participate in the development aircraft, largely thanks to the global interest in its unique Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) design.
Source // defenceWeb
Klein Vision’s AirCar Successfully Completes Flight Tests
Klein Vision’s Aircar (V5) has safely completed flight tests, performing two 1500’ AGL flights, or two full airport patterns, including two takeoffs and landings at Piestany airport in Slovakia. Designed by Professor Stefan Klein, the AirCar is a two-seater roadable aircraft designed for both personal and commercial use. The AirCar weighs in at 1,100 kg, and can carry a payload...

Klein Vision’s AirCar Successfully Completes Flight Tests

Klein Vision’s Aircar (V5) has safely completed flight tests, performing two 1500’ AGL flights, or two full airport patterns, including two takeoffs and landings at Piestany airport in Slovakia. Designed by Professor Stefan Klein, the AirCar is a two-seater roadable aircraft designed for both personal and commercial use.
The AirCar weighs in at 1,100 kg, and can carry a payload of about 200 kg during flight. Powered by a BMW 1.6L engine, the AirCar has an estimated power output of 140 HP. The roadable aircraft can switch from road to flight mode in under 3 minutes, and is expected to have a travel range of 1,000 km with fuel consumption at 18 liters per hour during flight. For flight, the AirCar will need to use a runway of at least 300m, and will have a cruise speed of 200 km/h once in the air.
The final version of the AirCar is expected to have 2 seater, 3 seater, and 4 seater designs, as well as a twin-engine design and an amphibious design.
According to Klein Vision founder and CEO, Professor Stefan Klein, “The key flight parameters confirmed all theoretical concepts and calculations that the development of the AirCar was based on. Following the completion of all required flight tests in compliance with EASA regulations, we will deliver a model with a certified ADEPT, 300HP engine within the next 6 next months. The good news is, we already have a buyer.”
Klein Vision co-founder, investor, and pilot Anton Zajac added that “With AirCar you will arrive at your destination without the hassle of getting a ride to airport and passing through commercial security, you can drive your AirCar to the golf course, the office, the mall or your hotel and park it in a normal parking space.”
Visit Klein Vision’s website here
Why it’s important: A roadable aircraft is a difficult vehicle to produce, as companies must factor in the requirements of both a car and an aircraft into a single design, which lends itself to trade-offs that may compromise performance in one mode of operation or the other. However, this successful flight test shows that Klein Vision’s AirCar may be capable of bridging the gap between flight and ground transportation.
Source // Klein Vision – PR Newswire
PRICE Systems Joins Access Skyways to Support the Integration of Aerial Mobility
PRICE Systems, an industry leader in cost estimation technology, has joined with Access Skyways, a group of partner companies working to support the integration of aerial mobility transportation worldwide. PRICE Systems has previously been a critical component of progressing the aerial mobility industry, providing model-based cost engineering technology and consulting to predict total lifecycle costs (PRICE Cost Analytics) – down...

PRICE Systems Joins Access Skyways to Support the Integration of Aerial Mobility

PRICE Systems, an industry leader in cost estimation technology, has joined with Access Skyways, a group of partner companies working to support the integration of aerial mobility transportation worldwide.
PRICE Systems has previously been a critical component of progressing the aerial mobility industry, providing model-based cost engineering technology and consulting to predict total lifecycle costs (PRICE Cost Analytics) – down to electric components and transportation infrastructure. With PRICE Systems now joining Access Skyways, PRICE’s Cost Analytics technology will now be able to provide direct advice to Access Skyways.
Initially formed by Jaunt Air Mobility, Access Skyways works to help organizations through the implementation process of aerial mobility, ranging from general transit to vertiports to air operations. Access Skyways develops and provides data and analysis on infrastructure design, supply and demand cost analysis, flight operations, electrification, existing flight infrastructure, and maintenance and repair. Jaunt Air Mobility is also a designer and manufacturer of its own piloted (or autonomous) electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban and regional mobility. Jaunt is also a named partner with Uber Elevate, and will provide eVTOL aircraft for Uber’s planned flight operations.

Initially formed by Jaunt Air Mobility, Access Skyways works to help organizations through the implementation process of aerial mobility, ranging from general transit to vertiports to air operations. Featured above is Jaunt Air Mobility’s eVTOL, designed for urban air mobility transportation.
According to Anthony Demarco, CEO of PRICE Systems, “The future of flight is real and we are excited to bring our aeronautics cost estimating experience to the table and join a strong group of companies whose paths have crossed before.”
Nate Sirirojvisuth, PhD, Sr. Cost Research Analyst at PRICE Systems states that, “We have great eVTOL technology, but we need to optimize it for the market, not just performance.”
Why it’s important: Access Skyways represents an important part of the aerial mobility industry, providing aid for organizations in managing the complexity of introducing a new system of transit to a preexisting transit ecosystem. PRICE Systems’ inclusion will further support the integration of future transport for aerial mobility worldwide.
Source // PR Newswire
Uber and SK Telecom Agree to Form Joint Venture in Korea
Uber Technologies and South Korean telecommunications company SK Telecom have agreed to form a joint venture for a specialized mobility business that will be spun off from SK Telecom. The new business will both support current on-demand ground transportation operations in tandem with planning future aerial mobility services. SK Telecom stated that its board had approved the creation of this...

Uber and SK Telecom Agree to Form Joint Venture in Korea

Uber Technologies and South Korean telecommunications company SK Telecom have agreed to form a joint venture for a specialized mobility business that will be spun off from SK Telecom. The new business will both support current on-demand ground transportation operations in tandem with planning future aerial mobility services. SK Telecom stated that its board had approved the creation of this new business, tentatively named “T Map Mobility”, and Uber has agreed to invest over $100 million into the joint venture.
SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho stated that his company’s goal with T Map Mobility is to “usher in a new era of future mobility technologies, including flying vehicles.” T Map is South Korea’s largest mobility platform with around 13 million monthly active users, and the company plans to use data from these operations to help design aerial mobility infrastructure.

Rendering of the EmbraerX eVTOL, a partner to the Uber Elevate project
SK Telecom stated that T Map Mobility would leverage 5G, artificial intelligence and T Map capabilities to offer optimal route planning, 3-D high definition mapping for high-altitude geographic features, and intelligent air traffic control systems for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. SK Telecom is a member of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Team Korea, a public-private consultative body launched in June to commercialize drone taxis by 2025.
Why it’s important: Leveraging South Korea’s most popular mobility platform, this joint venture between SK Telecom and Uber will accelerate the development of ride share services in South Korea on the ground to eventually transition to the air. By combining these businesses, the venture will provide an “all-in-one” mobility service that will utilizing existing ground transportation networks to grow into eventual aerial mobility services. By establishing this partnership, SK Telecom, Uber, and South Korea are laying down groundwork for air mobility in a major and systemic way.
Source // Aju Business Daily
Jaunt Air Mobility Appoints Martin Peryea as CEO
Jaunt Air Mobility announced on October 5th, 2020, that their board would be elevating former Chief Technical Officer Martin Peryea as Jaunt’s interim CEO. The press release cited that the change in leadership was made for the sake of the development of the Jaunt Journey aircraft. According to Peryea, who held over 33 of engineering experience at Bell Helicopters, “On...

Jaunt Air Mobility Appoints Martin Peryea as CEO

Jaunt Air Mobility announced on October 5th, 2020, that their board would be elevating former Chief Technical Officer Martin Peryea as Jaunt’s interim CEO. The press release cited that the change in leadership was made for the sake of the development of the Jaunt Journey aircraft. According to Peryea, who held over 33 of engineering experience at Bell Helicopters, “On behalf of the company, I am pleased to lead Jaunt at this critical juncture. Our confidence in our technology remains high and our working relationships with our key suppliers are stronger than ever. We understand that Kaydon Stanzione will be pursuing other endeavors.”

The Jaunt Journey
Photograph: Jaunt Air Mobility
Jaunt Air Mobility LLC is an air taxi development company focused on creating unique air vehicles that provide the highest levels of operational efficiencies, safety, and community acceptance. A promising startup as well as a current partner of Uber Elevate, the company is a leader in vertical flight with the design and development of its Reduced Rotor Operating Speed Aircraft (ROSA™) solution.
The Jaunt Journey, designed to meet Uber’s noise and performance requirements, was originally designed by Carter Aviation, which was recently acquired by Jaunt Air Mobility. The Jaunt Journey eVTOL utilizes Carter Aviation’s slowed-rotor compound (SR/C) technology to provide lift from the vertical rotor even in horizontal flight, and to decrease noise while increasing efficiency and safety. The Jaunt eVTOL is unique among the Uber Elevate partners in that it features only a single lift rotor.
Why it’s important: Jaunt Air Mobility has undergone a leadership change, but is still committed to its vision, as well as its investors, suppliers, customers, and all other stakeholders. The company remains confident that the change will only benefit the company and all stakeholders, and has high hopes for Martin Peryea, former CTO of Jaunt and a long-time expert in vertical lift technologies.
Source // Jaunt Air Mobility Press Release (10/5/2020)
Vertical Aerospace’s £2.3 Million Smart Charger Project Gains ATI Funding
Vertical Aerospace has received a major investment from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to fund the development of a smart charger network for its VA-1X eVTOL aircraft. Working in partnership with Warwick University, the two-year project aims to usher in a new wave of aviation battery technology, with marked improvements in battery lifetime, maintenance time, and anomaly prevention. The smart...

Vertical Aerospace’s £2.3 Million Smart Charger Project Gains ATI Funding

Vertical Aerospace has received a major investment from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to fund the development of a smart charger network for its VA-1X eVTOL aircraft. Working in partnership with Warwick University, the two-year project aims to usher in a new wave of aviation battery technology, with marked improvements in battery lifetime, maintenance time, and anomaly prevention. The smart charger system is expected to be completed by October 2022.

“The collaboration between Vertical and Warwick University will take cutting-edge electrochemical concepts and principals from academia and apply them to the production of a charger with an incorporated diagnostic device, effectively a smart charger.” Photograph: Vertical Aerospace
The main feature of the smart charger will be an incorporated diagnostic device, which will allow the charger to oversee and analyze real-time in-flight and charge event data, such as battery lifetime, state of charge, and potential failures onboard the vehicle’s battery. The diagnostic device would then allow the charger to make adjustments that would optimize battery lifetime, schedule maintenance automatically, and report any anomalies before they happen.
According to Limhi Somerville, Head of Energy Storage at Vertical Aerospace, “Battery systems including charge and diagnostics testing are well-known in academia and industry; having undergone years of development and research for the automotive market. An aerospace application provides a fantastic opportunity to utilize methods, designs, models and algorithms that were not financially, volumetrically or technically feasible before. Using these novel approaches, we plan to significantly improve the safety, range and capability of our battery system.”

“The smart charger will be used in conjunction with Vertical’s recently unveiled passenger model, VA-1X, to increase the performance and further enhance the aircraft’s safety levels.” Photograph: Vertical Aerospace
To help with the development of this project, technical experts from Warwick University will be working on the algorithms needed and compare with similar models from other industries. The finished algorithms will be implemented into the smart charger, which will be tested on one of Vertical’s aircraft. After testing is complete, Vertical Aerospace intends to implement the smart chargers on their recently unveiled passenger model VA-1X. The VA-1X can hold up to 4 passengers and 1 pilot, and will be capable of flying at speeds of 150 mph with a range of 100 miles. Vertical Aerospace looks to certify the VA-1X in early 2024, and begin commercial services soon after.
According to James Marco, Professor at University of Warwick, “The successful integration and management of battery systems within future electric aircraft represents a significant research challenge and one that WMG is excited to be working on in partnership with Vertical Aerospace. This project will allow us to expand our capabilities in battery characterization, battery system modeling and novel methods of fault diagnosis and prognosis. All within a sector that is strategically important for the UK as it move towards its zero emissions transport targets.”

“Capable of traveling 100 miles at 150 mph, carrying four passengers and one pilot, VA-1X is set to be the world’s first certified winged eVTOL with initial commercial operations starting in 2024.” Photograph: Vertical Aerospace
Why it’s important: Recent commercialized developments in battery technology have mostly come from the automotive industry, meaning that those batteries are not optimized for aviation gravimetric energy or power density requirements. With Vertical Aerospace and Warwick University’s new smart charger project, battery technology in the electric aviation industry will take another step forward, creating opportunities for the entire aerial mobility industry as well.
Source // Vertical Aerospace Press Release (9/24/2020)
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