Category: Events

Sabrewing Aircraft plans to perform the first flight of its Rhaegal unmanned heavy-lift, long-range half-scale prototype aircraft by the end of March, says Ed De Reyes, Sabrewing chairman and CEO, according to a recent publication by Janes. 

This half-scale prototype has an 8.5 m wingspan, and will be roughly half the weight of the full-size production aircraft. The full-scale Rhaegal that will go into production will have a wingspan of 17 m, said De Reyes, adding that the company started with the half-scale prototype to make it easier to operate, and for it to perform avionics and autopilot development.

The Rhaegal RG-1 is designed to fly non-stop and un-refueled for 4500 nautical miles (8800 kilometers). Learn more about its technical specifications in the Hangar.

The full-scale Rhaegal will feature a turbo-electric powertrain that will be fuel-efficient and not require a charging station. Sabrewing is installing a Safran Arriel 2D turboshaft engine that it received for free from Safran into the half-scale prototype for use in its upcoming flight test. The Arriel 2D, which powers the Airbus H125 and H130 single engine commercial helicopters, features a take-off power of 952 shaft horsepower (shp), and a cruise power of 856 shp. 

Rendering of Sabrewing Aircraft’s Rhaegal UAV prototype. Credit // Sabrewing Aircraft

De Reyes said Sabrewing just finished redesigning the half-scale prototype’s gearbox for use with the Arriel 2D as it would provide about 3x the shaft horsepower that would have been provided by another engine the company considered using. De Reyes told Janes on 16 February that the company was planning to use a Boeing 502 gas turbine engine in the half-scale prototype’s first flight, but decided against it when it discovered that the Boeing engine, which provides 300 hp, would max out at just over 300 kW for a few seconds.

Related: In 2019, Sabrewing announced VTOL Cargo Flights Are Coming to Saint Paul Island 

Why it’s important: Sabrewing’s VTOL service offerings cater to both the commercial and defense industries, which is advantageous for the company with respect to diversifying revenue streams similar to the aerospace giants such as Boeing. However, its lack of significant milestone announcements as of late have indicated a potentially underfunded program. 

Source // Janes

Today EHang announced that it has successfully completed the first trial flights of its EH216 over the sea of Southern China; the autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) took off from Hengqin New District and landed at Dong Ao Island in Zhuhai City. Earlier this week, the company also announced the completion of unmanned test flights in Beijing, marking the first time that a passenger-grade AAV flied over the capital of China, a highly regulated airspace in China. These unmanned trial flights obtained the official approval from the CAAC, China’s airspace regulator, and are featured in the short video below:

EHang’s demonstration over the South China Sea was strategically located over a popular tourist destination: Dong Ao Island is known for its pleasant natural scenery, and has the market potential for developing short-to-medium distance air travel related scenarios in coastal areas. Compared with traditional sightseeing ferries and helicopters, the purely electric passenger-grade AAV uses point-to-point direct flight, which is safer, more efficient and carbon emission-free.  It can unlock new perspectives for passengers to enjoy the scenery in the sky and provide a safer, more comfortable and more personal flight experiences.  As aerial flight technologies continue to evolve, AAVs powered by clean energy have become a new trend of low-altitude tourism.

The EH216 AAV conducting its first trial flights near Dong Ao Island, located in the south-central part of Wanshan Archipelago of Zhuhai City, February 2021. Credit // EHang

Moving forward, EHang will continue to development of aerial island tourism and explore new application scenarios of AAV technologies. EHang also intends to promote a new use case model of “urban air mobility (UAM) + leisure tourism” in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with the goal of building international tourism destinations.  This will lay a solid foundation for the subsequent development of aerial sightseeing routes and operations.

Why it’s important: As of February 2021, EHang has successfully conducted more than 10,000 trial flights of its EH216 AAV, including passenger-carrying trial flights, in 42 cities across 8 countries. Additionally, the company has been working closely with the regulatory authorities on regulations and industry standards for urban air mobility. EHang has vocalized its intention to continue strict compliance with regulatory requirements and drive the industry development, which will assist in making safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone.

Recent News: EHang Provides Updates on Major Production Facility and Announces Onsite Investors Day

Source // EHang press release

Vertical Aerospace has announced the appointment of Richard Alexander as its Head of Flight Physics to help Vertical move towards their vision of electric fight for everyone. Alexander was formerly Chief Flight Dynamics Integrator on the Mitsubishi M100 Regional Jet and Head of Flight Sciences at Bombardier Aerospace; now he will assume a key role in ensuring that the Flight Physics aspects, including noise, performance, and handling, are safe and optimized for certification and operation of the first Vertical Aerospace aircraft to fly the public. 

Vertical Aerospace has substantial influence in the sphere of sustainable aviation technologies, as one of only a handful of companies to have flown and flight tested two full-scale all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototypes with UK Civil Aviation Authority approval. The second, Seraph, can carry 250kg and reach speeds of 80km/h. Most recently Vertical unveiled its piloted winged eVTOL, VA-1X. 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.

Credit // Vertical Aerospace

With over three decades of experience in the aerospace domain, Richard has a proven record of accomplishment both as a Flight Physics Engineer and as a leader of teams, completing the conceptual design, development, testing, certification, and entry into service of many aircraft designs, from the simplest derivative to complete clean-sheet programs. This includes the BAe 146-RJ, Bombardier CRJ700 and 900, Bombardier CSeries (now Airbus A220) and all the most recent versions of the Bombardier Global family. 

Newly appointed Head of Flight Physics Richard Alexander said: “Joining Vertical Aerospace at such an exciting time in the development of the eVTOL market segment will be a great challenge for me and I am looking forward to meeting the team and starting to contribute. My background is based on fixed–wing aircraft and so I have quite a bit of catching up to do on the world of rotorcraft: I will have to add some “up” skills to my “forward (with a bit of up)” toolbox. However, as the VA-1X will transition from vertical to forward flight during operations, I am sure I will have a good deal of useful aircraft development experience to add to Vertical’s overall capability. I am also motivated by the zero-carbon emissions aspect: our vehicles will replace polluting, dinosaur-burning modes of ground and flight transport. My recent electric aircraft activities at CAE have already ignited an engineering passion to move the planet forward and develop the greenest, most commercially successful product in its class.”

Why it’s important: Vertical Aerospace is continuing to work alongside aviation authorities around the world and plans to have a certified eVTOL by 2024. They also continue to build strategic partnerships with global leaders such as Honeywell, who are developing the flight control systems for their latest aircraft. The company is striving to disrupt the trillion-dollar commercial aviation market, and will leverage the knowledge and expertise of Richard Alexander to do so in the most safe and efficient manner.

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

Source // Vertical Aerospace press release

BETA Technologies and Joby Aviation are planning to hold a ceremony to commemorate the groundbreaking of an “advanced urban air mobility technology simulator” facility at Ohio’s Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. Designed by the two pioneering eVTOL startups themselves, the facility will accelerate the Air Force’s deepening exploration of the vehicles, a project called “Agility Prime.”

Custom graphic from the launch event of USAF’s Agility Prime Initiative. Credit // Agility Prime

In June of this year, Beta Technologies and Joby Aviation became the first developers of urban air mobility vehicles to progress to the third stage of the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program. The Agility Prime program is the flagship eVTOL initiative of the United States Air Force, and is best described as an exchange of government resources with private companies for knowledge transfer, aerial demonstration flights, and potential acquisitions of various aerial mobility companies that elect to participate.

Related: Joby Aviation in Talks to Purchase Uber Elevate

The Air Force recently launched the $35 million program, seeking to create and speed a commercial market for advanced air mobility aircraft while creating a supply chain to support production of the cars, sometimes called “air taxis,” the Air Force Research Lab said in an announcement on the groundbreaking.

Related: In September, US Air Force Leaders Gathered for the First Agility Prime eVTOL Demo

The BETA Technologies’ ALIA-250c, a three-year project resulting in precise design and development of a new eVTOL prototype. Credit // Beta Technologies

Why it’s important: Over the years, Springfield has become increasingly important to Air Force research. Its airspace has also been approved for testing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities for unmanned aircraft or drones above the airport. As highlighted by AFRL Commander Pringle, the establishment of an air taxi simulator facility “paves the way for AFRL and the Ohio community to advance the science and better understand an innovative capability with both military and commercial benefits.”

Source // Dayton Daily News

Chinese EV maker XPeng has displayed a prototype of its single-seat flying car at the 2020 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, showing off eight propellers and a capsule-like frame.

According to XPeng Motors, “electrically driven urban air-enabled multi-dimensional transport will be an integral part of the future mobility ecosystem. Xpeng is exploring this area in the course of its development of fully integrated and comprehensive mobility solutions for tomorrow’s cities.”

The vehicle, named the Kiwigogo, can carry up to two passengers and is designed to fly in low-altitude space, between 16 and 82 feet (5 to 25 meters) from the ground. XPeng explained that the Kiwigogo is in its seventh year of development and has 15 proprietary intellectual property rights and roughly 10,000 safety tests have already been conducted. However, XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng says that the flying car is unlikely to be commercialized by XPeng as part of its current offerings.

“Xpeng’s efforts in the electric air-enabled mobility space will remain focused on R&D and experimental designs for the present,” the Guangzhou-based company said, adding that it does not expect impact on its current business. “Xpeng will evaluate prospects in the space in details before proceeding with any substantial investment in this area.”

Xpeng recently completed its Series C+ round financing which received US$900.0 million of proceeds from top-tier investors demonstrating confidence in the Company’s strategy, market positioning, and its long-term vision as a leading Smart EV player in China. Additionally, the Alibaba-backed Chinese electric carmaker filed for an IPO on the NYSE and claimed to have raised more money than expected. As a result of the IPO, it sold more than 99.7 million shares for $15 each in its Wall Street debut, raising about $1.5 billion.

Why it’s important: XPeng’s recent successful IPO and Series C+ financing further enhances the Company’s commitment and credibility in providing Smart EV transport for the future. This funding, in combination with its success in the automotive sector, could provide a strong base for the company to continue the development of its Kiwigogo air vehicle and other aerial mobility options in the future.

Sources // XPeng; South China Morning Post