Category: Events

Universal Hydrogen’s hydrogen electric DeHaviland Canada DHC8-Q300 (Dash 8) aircraft has just completed its first flight, powered by magniX electric propulsion units.

Universal Hydrogen flew its 40-passenger regional airliner, nicknamed Lightning McClean, using hydrogen fuel cell propulsion at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) for 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 3,500 MSL. The flight, conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate, was the first in a two-year flight test campaign expected to culminate in 2025 with entry into passenger service of ATR 72 regional aircraft converted to run on hydrogen.

Representatives from Connect Airlines and Amelia, the US and European launch customers for the hydrogen airplanes, were on hand to witness the historic flight. Universal Hydrogen has a rapidly growing order book, today totaling 247 aircraft conversions from 16 customers worldwide, totaling over $1 billion in conversions backlog and over $2 billion in fuel services over the first ten years of operation.

“Today will go down in the history books as the true start to the decarbonization of the global airline industry and we at Connect Airlines are extremely proud of the role that we, as the first US operator, will play in leading the way with Universal Hydrogen,” said John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines. Connect, which will begin regional turboprop service this spring, has placed a first-position US order with Universal Hydrogen to convert 75 ATR 72-600 regional airplanes to hydrogen powertrains with purchase rights for 25 additional aircraft conversions. Deliveries will start in 2025. “We have committed to being North America’s first zero-emission airline and this historic flight, taking hydrogen, which can be made with nothing but sunshine and emitting only water, is a key milestone on our journey,” continued Thomas.

“With this technology, and the improvement of government positive regulations I am confident that we can turn the tide of public sentiment and once again make aviation a shining beacon of technological optimism,” added Alain Regourd, President of Amelia.

In this first test flight, one of the airplane’s turbine engines was replaced with Universal Hydrogen’s fuel cell-electric, megawatt-class powertrain. The other remained a conventional engine for safety of flight. The flight was piloted by Alex Kroll, an experienced former U.S. Air Force test pilot and the company’s chief test pilot. “During the second circuit over the airport, we were comfortable with the performance of the hydrogen powertrain, so we were able to throttle back the fossil fuel turbine engine to demonstrate cruise principally on hydrogen power,” said Kroll. “The airplane handled beautifully, and the noise and vibrations from the fuel cell powertrain are significantly lower than from the conventional turbine engine.”

The company’s powertrain is built around Plug Power’s ProGen family of fuel cells specially modified for aviation use. One of the unique aspects of the design is that the powertrain does not use a battery—the fuel cells drive the electric motor directly—drastically reducing weight and cost. The motor, a modified magni650 electric propulsion unit, and power electronics were supplied by Everett-based magniX. Seattle-based AeroTEC assisted with engineering efforts, including design of the modified nacelle structure, aircraft systems design and integration, as well as aircraft modifications and installation of the Universal Hydrogen powertrain onto the flight test aircraft, accomplished in less than 12 months.

Related:

• Universal Hydrogen’s DHC 8-300 Receives Special Airworthiness Certificate
• Magnix Announces Hydrogen Propulsion Development

The test flight comes on the back of successful demonstrations in December 2022 of Universal Hydrogen’s modular hydrogen logistics system conducted at the company’s engineering center in Toulouse, France. “Our business model resolves the chicken-and-egg problem between hydrogen airplanes and hydrogen infrastructure by developing both in parallel and with a uniquely low-cost approach,” said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. “The airplanes are converted to hydrogen using an aftermarket retrofit conversion kit, tackling the existing fleet rather than developing a brand new airplane. And hydrogen fueling uses modular capsules compatible with existing freight networks and airport cargo handling equipment, making every airport in the world hydrogen-ready.”

Why it’s important: As well-put in Universal Hydrogen’s press release, “the hydrogen-powered airplane is not just a revolutionary new product; it is a symbol of hope and progress, a beacon of light in a world that desperately needs it. Today marks a new chapter in the history of aviation and the fight against climate change. Universal Hydrogen is leading the charge, and the world is taking notice.”

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known to be the most influential tech event in the world. This year, the event will be held from January 5th-8th in Las Vegas, Nevada and will highlight the latest transformative technologies, including vehicle technology, artificial intelligence, digital health and smart home tech, as well as new categories: NFTs, food tech, space tech and a sea of people trying to see it all.

One advancement in vehicle technology that will be showcased at CES 2023 is the four-seater ASKA electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The “flying car” can drive on the road like a car or fly like an aircraft with capability for VTOL as well as short takeoff and landing (STOL). Its aerodynamic design is said to provide a great, safe, and efficient driving experience on the road and air. the vehicle is equipped with electric motors powering a flight range of up to 250 miles – an extender will also be available. Another feature includes an all-electric architecture which ensures future models can convert the range extenders to any other energy source including hydrogen.

Above: A prototype of the ASKA on display at CES 2023

ASKA’s development and flight testing is currently being conducted in accordance with FAA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines for certification. ASKA has also already signed a five-year Space Act Agreement with NASA to advance their participation in NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign (AAM), jointly organized with the FAA. ASKA is targeted for commercialization in 2026 subject to certification, and hopes to obtain highway certification with a speed of 70 mph while in drive mode. However, the first deliveries may be limited to local roads.

Why it’s important: CES is the premier stage on which a company can showcase the progress it has made on its latest innovations. The ASKA Drive and Fly vehicle is currently available for preorder to the general public; by witnessing the prototype on display at CES, this could cause an influx in orders as consumers realize the feasibility of the technology and trust in the company’s near-term ability to manufacture and sell the product.

Ampaire’s Eco Caravan, a nine-seat regional aircraft, has just made its first flight on a fully-integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system. Ampaire expects it to be the first electrified regional aircraft to enter commercial service (certification in 2024), and the first in a series of larger Ampaire hybrid-electric aircraft that will lead a transition to sustainable aviation.

The first flight was 33 minutes, performed to conduct initial checks of the hybrid-electric propulsion system. With test pilot Elliot Seguin, the Eco Caravan took off from Camarillo Airport north of Los Angeles at 7:49AM pacific time. It climbed to 3,500 feet at full power, combining power from the combustion engine and electric engine.

Seguin then throttled back to a cruise setting, reducing load on both power sources. He spent roughly 20 minutes testing various power settings while studying temperatures and other readings before making a descent and final approach to Camarillo at a low power setting. “The Eco Caravan propulsion system performed just as expected,” said Seguin. “It was smooth and quiet. All temperature and power output readings were normal.”

“Aviation is the hardest industry to de-carbonize,” said Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker. “Fully-electric aircraft are range limited because of the weight and energy capacity of current-generation batteries. Hybrid-electric aircraft, however, can preserve the range and utility of today’s aircraft. That is why we are focused on hybrid-electric propulsion for a series of increasingly capable regional aircraft. It’s a way for the airline industry to de-carbonize more quickly and also to benefit from lower operating costs.”

Just recently, Ampaire received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s advanced research unit, ARPA-E, for $9 million. The agency’s SCALEUP program will fund the development of key hybrid-electric subsystems that can be produced in volume and meet the standards of the FAA and other certifying authorities. The first commercial application of SCALEUP technology is slated to be Ampaire’s Eco Caravan, which will accelerate Ampaire’s plans to bring compelling and practical hybrid-electric aircraft to market.

Why it’s important: This is a first and a major milestone in a new generation of sustainable electrified aircraft. The Eco Caravan’s propulsion technology is scalable to larger regional aircraft and ultimately to single-aisle airlines. Ampaire plans to rapidly roll out more powerful propulsion systems for larger aircraft, following a building-block approach that will dramatically improve the sustainability of airline operations.

Ampaire’s approach differs from other electric aviation developers in that its current aircraft in development will not require a full aircraft certification program, as these can be time consuming and very expensive. The Grand Caravan is already FAA certified, meaning Ampaire is simply certifying it to fly with a new propulsion system. Ampaire is already working with the FAA to certify the Eco Caravan under a supplemental type certificate (STC) by 2024.

Source // Ampaire press release

Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), based in Santa Clara, CA, has publicly unveiled its production aircraft, Midnight, a pilot-plus-four-passenger eVTOL aircraft during its Open House event in Palo Alto, CA. Midnight is the evolution of Archer’s demonstrator eVTOL aircraft, Maker, which has validated its proprietary twelve-tilt-six configuration and key enabling technologies.

Midnight is designed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and, with its expected payload of over 1,000 pounds, can carry four passengers plus a pilot. Midnight is optimized for back-to-back short distance trips of around 20-miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between. Archer is working to certify Midnight with the FAA in late-2024 and will then use it as part of its UAM network, which it plans to launch in 2025.

“From day one Archer’s strategy has always been about finding the most efficient path to commercializing eVTOL aircraft,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “We believe our strategy and team’s ability to execute on it has allowed us to establish our leadership position in the market, and is why we are confident we will be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA.”

Archer’s unique approach to designing Midnight focuses on combining high function and high emotion, inspiring passengers to want to experience it, similar to the feeling that was evoked in this country during the Golden Age of aviation in the 1950s. Archer is confident that Midnight will lead the way in this new era of vertical flight. Midnight marries cutting-edge electric propulsion technology with state-of-the-art aircraft systems to deliver the key attributes of our eVTOL aircraft:

• Safety. High redundancy and simplified propulsion systems and electric motors make for a significantly safer and easily-maintainable aircraft compared to a helicopter. Midnight has no single critical points of failure, meaning that should any single component fail, the aircraft can still safely complete its flight.
• Low noise. Designed to cruise at approximately 2,000 feet, the design of Midnight is such that the noise that reaches the ground is expected to measure around 45 A-weighted decibels (dBA), almost 1,000 times quieter than that of a helicopter.
• Sustainable. Midnight is all electric, resulting in zero operating emissions. Archer is committed to sourcing renewable energy wherever possible to power its aircraft. For example, Midnight’s seats are constructed out of “flax” fiber, a natural plant which requires very little irrigation and is highly absorbent of CO2.

“We continue the push towards commercialization, with the vast majority of our resources focused on completing the development and certification of Midnight, building out our manufacturing and supply chain capabilities and hardening our go-to-market plans,” said Mark Mesler, Archer’s CFO.

In August, Archer completed Midnight’s preliminary design review covering all aspects of the aircraft’s specifications and manufacturing requirements, which enabled it to determine that the design is feasible for Type Certification and commercialization.

Content from the Open House event is now available on Archer’s investor relations website (investors.archer.com) and Archer’s social media accounts.

Why it’s important: Archer has also made rapid progress on Maker’s flight testing program and is on schedule to complete a full transition flight in the coming weeks, just twelve months after its first hover flight. Achieving this milestone will further validate the flight physics of Archer’s proprietary twelve-tilt-six configuration that it uses on both Maker and Midnight, as well as a number of the key enabling technologies, such as the aircraft flight control system. The Maker flight test program has generated invaluable data that Archer has leveraged in the development and certification path of Midnight.

Source // Archer press release

French startup MACA unveiled its revolutionary Hybrid Carcopter S Eleven flying vehicle at CES this week. The company’s public display employed augmented reality to demonstrate the capabilities of the autonomous aircraft, almost exactly one year after the following “teaser” video was released:

The S Eleven is a racing purpose-built vehicle designed to reach a top speed of 155mph and has room for one pilot. The flying racing car also has automatic collision avoidance systems, similar to the Alauda Airspeeder,  in order to ensure full safety during competition.

“The racing industry has enabled us to build and evolve our product faster than our competitors because we apply existing requirements and certifications to our craft beginning with our initial design phase, allowing us to overcome all regulatory hurdles before conceptual development ever began,” says MACA Chief Operating Officer Thierry de Boisvilliers. “Plus the Carcopter S Eleven will be powered by eco-friendly Hydrogen-based fuel cells, which leaves no impact on the environment while delivering greater time-in-the-sky autonomy than vehicles using electricity or fossil fuels.” What’s more, de Boisvilliers says, the company’s relationship with the world of auto racing allows MACA to test their vehicle at low altitudes at local racetracks within a closed environment, thus enabling the company to gauge, monitor and support the vehicle through every phase of product testing.

“During trial flights, MACA will place sensors all around the tests-tracks, ensuring that even unmanned sessions will prevent vehicles from hitting walls or – in the case of multiple vehicles testing simultaneously – one another,” he says.

A retired French fighter pilot, de Boisvilliers founded MACA in 2020 with former Airbus executive Michael Krollak, after three years of R&D. The concept launched as the direct result of an internal Airbus engineering competition, where the duo’s Formula One Flying Car Concept earned top honors, garnering the support of all major Airbus divisions. Now equipped with a Carcopter S Eleven prototype, MACA was able to unveil their creation to the world in Las Vegas via its one-third scale aircraft.

The Carcopter S Eleven’s side profile

Why it’s important: MACA’s racing Carcopter isn’t the only ‘flying race car’ concept on the horizon. Alauda and Airspeeder, for example, just established the world’s first Flying Race Car Factory, and have even already conducted the first unmanned aerial drag race with manned races planned for later this year.

Both Alauda and MACA are inspired by F1, and intend to use the momentum gained through competition to push forward the aerial mobility industry, eventually hoping to develop vehicles that could augment auto traffic to reduce its load on urban areas.

This arrival of MACA on the playing field increases competition within the aerial racing industry, which could accelerate overall interest in the niche and foster development of needed infrastructure.

Related Articles:

• Airspeeder MK3: World’s First Electric Flying Racing Car
• Alauda Aeronautics Establishes world’s first Flying Race Car Factory

Wisk, the urban air mobility company based out of San Francisco and New Zealand, displayed its fifth generation, autonomous, electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi publicly for the first time during CoMotion LA (Nov. 16 – 18). Upon arriving at the conference, Wisk tweeted the following photos of its aircraft:

Hello, #LosAngeles. We've arrived. Curious about #CoMotionLA? For more behind-the-scenes content, check out our IG stories! https://t.co/yQhldTvrrx pic.twitter.com/C45Xr5mHnS

— Wisk (@WiskAero) November 15, 2021

“We’re extremely excited to be an Impact partner for CoMotion again this year,” said Wisk’s Chief Marketing Officer, Becky Tanner, who presented a keynote entitled “Those Who Leap” at the conference. “Throughout history, there have been advancements that have fundamentally changed our lives and pushed us into the future with a leap. We are on the edge of another great leap- one that will take us from congested, ground-based, fossil-fuel-driven transportation, to cleaner, all-electric, everyday flight.”

CoMotion LA will be the first time that Wisk has publicly displayed its eVTOL air taxi in the U.S. To date, the company’s fleet of fifth generation aircraft has been reserved exclusively for testing purposes and has been accessible to the broader public only through flight videos and photos. CoMotion LA marks the start of an enhanced public engagement effort, including both demonstrations and displays, designed to bring stakeholders along on the journey, see firsthand the safety of the technology, and experience the future of mobility.

Tanner added:
“We are incredibly excited to be displaying our autonomous eVTOL air taxi for the first time in the U.S., and to kick off our broader public engagement effort. We understand that the journey to everyday flight for everyone is not one that we can take alone and we are proud to share with the public what we get the privilege to experience every day.”

Why it’s important: Wisk is focused on delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. Since 2010, the company has successfully designed and developed five generations of eVTOL aircraft and has completed more than 1,500 test flights. The CoMotion LA conference provided a great medium for Wisk to publicize the progress it has made on its current prototype and allude to what can be expected in its sixth generation aircraft.

Today, July 27th, Volocopter flew its 2X eVTOL aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture 2021 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flight was the first ever public crewed test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the US.

The crewed Volocopter 2X took off at 2:45 PM CST for a 4-minute flight at ~164 ft and a top speed of 18 mph over Wittman Regional Airport as part of EAA’s AirVenture aviation celebration. Event attendees were able to watch the Volocopter 2X fly and take a seat in the VoloCity model at Volocopter’s booth to experience these aircraft. Nicknamed the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” more than 600,000 visitors are expected to come to see pioneering designs in action.

Footage of the crewed test flight can be found here on Volocopter’s website.

Volocopter’s VoloCity on display at EAA’ AirVenture Oshkosh 2021. Credit // Volocopter

“Oshkosh is a haven for enthusiasts and experts to embrace the pioneering spirit of aviation, and today’s Volocopter flight is one for the history books. This is the spirit of Oshkosh giving our visitors the chance to experience real pioneers, who will change aviation for good, right here,” says Rick Larsen, EAA Vice President of Communities and Member Programming.

“Volocopter successfully conducting the first US public manned test flight of an eVTOL company in the US is a milestone for the industry and a reminder that our commercial launch is fast approaching. We can talk about our lead in certification, low noise emissions, and global partnerships all we want, but nothing shows just how close we are to launch UAM as a service as does flying an air taxi in front of crowds and inviting people to sit in our aircraft. Air taxis are coming, and we are working to bring electric flights to cities around the globe in the next two to three years,” says Florian Reuter, Volocopter CEO.

Once certified for commercial launch in Europe, Volocopter is positioned for concurrent type certification approvals in the US from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), having applied earlier this year, and the civil aviation authority in Singapore (CAAS). The company already holds Design Organisation Approval and Production Organisation Approval, two strategic certification approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to design and produce aircraft in-house.

Why it’s important: This successful flight marks a key milestone in Volocopter’s plan to raise awareness of air taxis among populations around the globe and is critical to the long-term success of delivering advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) solutions.