Category: Vehicles/Manufactures

Carter Copter Acquired by Jaunt Mobility

01 February 2019 || 3 min read

Jaunt Air Mobility, a UAM company that was recently unveiled at the Vertical Flight Society symposium this month, has acquired the rights to the Carter slowed-rotor compound (SR/C) technology used in the Carter Copter eVTOL concept. The Carter Copter, which Carter Aviation has named as it’s ‘Electric Air Taxi’ is designed to fit Uber Elevate’s specifications for Air Taxis. Unlike many other designs,...

Carter Copter Acquired by Jaunt Mobility

01 February 2019 || 3 min read

The Carter Copter, which Carter Aviation has named as it’s ‘Electric Air Taxi’ is designed to fit Uber Elevate’s specifications for Air Taxis. Unlike many other designs, the carter copter features a single, long lift rotor rather the IDEP (integrated distributed electric propulsion). Learn more about the Carter Copter specs.

Carter believes that it’s slowed-rotor compound technology (SR/C), which it’s been developing since as early as 1998, could be an ideal solution for urban air taxis, owing to its added efficiency, safety, and noise control. Unlike other eVTOL concepts which require parachutes in the event of emergencies, the Carter Copter can use its rotor to complete auto-rotation landings. The rotor’s added length also makes for low rotor tip speeds, which would potentially lower the noise emission from the aircraft.

The Carter Copter technology demonstrator, which made its first flight in 1998.

Apparently, Jaunt Air Mobility, a newly founded aspiring UAM company with little public information, agrees with Carter on the importance of slow-rotor compound technology. This week, Jaunt announced its acquirement of the SRC technology. Little is still known about Jaunt, except that it was founded last May by New Jersey engineer and entrepreneur Kaydon Stanzione. Jaunt aims at becoming another business partner for Uber Elevate and is currently seeking additional funding.

Carter Aviation is also working on several other types of vertical flight technology and has a depth of knowledge and experience in the area. Since 1998, Carter has been developing manned prototypes of its vehicles, as seen below, including its PAV (Personal Air Vehicle), which is still in use and undergoing test flights.

Why it’s important: With the Carter Copter, Carter and Jaunt Air represent the wealth of technology and depth of engineering knowledge that is being put toward the Urban Air Mobility Industry. The Carter Copter’s unique single-rotor design and SR/C technology, which reduces noise and increases effeciency, could make it a potential additional partner for Uber Elevate, which is the goal of Jaunt Mobility Founder Kaydon Stanzione.

Jetson Aero Tests the ‘Jetson Speeder’

31 January 2019 || 4 min read

Polish Aerospace Company Jetson Aero has created what many are calling a ‘flying go-kart’- a single seater eVTOL potentially designed for racing. While Jetson Aero partly envisions that it’s ‘Jetson Speeder’ will be used for racing, its main goal is to make the possibility of personal flight available to everyone. The company, made of only a few individuals, spent a...

Jetson Aero Tests the ‘Jetson Speeder’

31 January 2019 || 4 min read

Polish Aerospace Company Jetson Aero has created what many are calling a ‘flying go-kart’- a single seater eVTOL potentially designed for racing.

While Jetson Aero partly envisions that it’s ‘Jetson Speeder’ will be used for racing, its main goal is to make the possibility of personal flight available to everyone. The company, made of only a few individuals, spent a great deal of months prototyping, testing, and programming to build the finished functional prototype from scratch.

Jetson is currently working on improving battery power & charging, durability, as well as designing a light-weight carbon fiber frame. It hopes for the final product to look something like this:

Jetson isn’t the only company that’s building this type of personal aircraft. Only a few months ago, Filipino Hip-Hop dancer and inventor Kyxz Mendiola showed the world his ‘Koncepto Millenya‘, which has a very similar design to the concept version of Jetson Speeder:

Kyxz Mendiola’s ‘Koncepto Millenya‘ was unveiled to the world in October 2018, soon after which the technology was bought by electric transportation company Star8.

Other companies are also developing personal eVTOL technology for both racing and other use cases. Hoversurf recently made the first sale of its S4 Hoverbike to the Dubai police. Assen Aero, which is developing a motorcycle-like hoverbike, completed successful test flights this December.

Jetson Aero has commented: “The feeling of flying and the possibility of *flying* in every direction of three dimensions is amazing. No complications or limits of classic aircraft.” Because of the Speeder’s smaller size and simplicity, lengthy take-off procedures and piloting expertise are unnecessary, fulfilling Jetson’s of making flying more accessible to everyone.

Why it’s important: Although it’s still unclear whether vehicles like the Jetson Speeder will be used for recreation, racing, or personal commuter transport, the widespread development of this technology signifies the potential and public interest of these smaller aircraft. Although these aircraft are built on a much smaller scale than vehicles like the Bell Nexus or Boeing PAV, they further prove the concept of these types of vehicles and take big steps toward making personal vertical flight possible for everyone.

Workhorse SureFly and AirSpaceX MOBi-ONE at Detroit Autoshow

26 January 2019 || 3 min read

There was more than cars at the Detroit Auto show earlier this month-both AirSpaceX and Workhorse showed off their respective eVTOL designs. AirSpaceX, the creator of the MOBi-ONE (top), is a subsidiary of the Detroit Aircraft Corp. (DAC). The MOBi-ONE has a somewhat similar design to the Joby S4, with a 65-mile range, a top speed of 250mph, and capacity for 4...

Workhorse SureFly and AirSpaceX MOBi-ONE at Detroit Autoshow

26 January 2019 || 3 min read

There was more than cars at the Detroit Auto show earlier this month-both AirSpaceX and Workhorse showed off their respective eVTOL designs.

AirSpaceX, the creator of the MOBi-ONE (top), is a subsidiary of the Detroit Aircraft Corp. (DAC). The MOBi-ONE has a somewhat similar design to the Joby S4, with a 65-mile range, a top speed of 250mph, and capacity for 4 passengers plus 1 pilot. (This capacity is larger than many current designs and iterations).

I AirspaceX plans to both build and operate urban services for its eVTOL.

Said founder and CEO Jon Rimanelli, “MOBi-ONE will offer clean, quiet, and connected on-demand air mobility to the mass traveling public at an affordable price…Our vision is to mass produce aircraft leveraging lean automotive design and mass production techniques so our vehicles are affordable to the mass traveling public.” Learn more about the MOBi-ONE

Workhorse SureFly meanwhile (featured below) had a full-size prototype to Detroit’s Autoshow. Workhorse plans for the SureFly ‘Octocopter’ to be available directly to the public for purchase at $200k, rather than provide flights services like AirspaceX. Unlike many helicopters, the SureFly is semi-automated, making it far easier to fly. The company is currently trying to get FAA Certification to begin production and is hoping that anyone with a Sport Pilot license will be allowed to fly the aircraft. Learn more about the Workhorse SureFly

Workhorse SureFly (above) creator CEO Steve Burns believes the affordability, compact size, and ease of flight of the SureFly will make it accessible to the public in the near future for private ownership.

Why it’s important: The presence of these companies at the Detroit auto show shows the beginning of blending between ground and air travel. Until now, personal air vehicles have been reserved for inter-city travel, but with new vehicles like these, journeys once traveled by cars can soon by completed by air as well. With one company selling the vehicle itself and the other selling transportation services, the two allude to an impending multi-faceted industry.

Pipistrel and Honeywell to Collaborate on UAM Tech

24 January 2019 || 4 min read

From Pipistrel’s Press Release: Pipistrel and Honeywell combine aerospace expertise to address the technical, regulatory and business challenges of the emerging on-demand mobility market Pipistrel and Honeywell have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) to collaborate on developing urban aviation technology. This effort will leverage Honeywell’s avionics, navigation, flight control systems connectivity, and other beneficial products and services onto a...

Pipistrel and Honeywell to Collaborate on UAM Tech

24 January 2019 || 4 min read

From Pipistrel’s Press Release:

Pipistrel and Honeywell combine aerospace expertise to address the technical, regulatory and business challenges of the emerging on-demand mobility market

Pipistrel and Honeywell have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) to collaborate on developing urban aviation technology. This effort will leverage Honeywell’s avionics, navigation, flight control systems connectivity, and other beneficial products and services onto a future Pipistrel vertical takeoff and landing air vehicle to support fully autonomous operations in the future.

“This is the beginning of a long-term relationship to collectively pursue the future of urban air mobility,” said Ivo Boscarol, Founder and President of Pipistrel. “Honeywell’s expertise in integrated avionics and flight control systems, systems integration, certification and manufacturing, combined with our capabilities in designing and developing advanced light aircraft, makes us the perfect pairing to advance the urban air mobility market. Pipistrel was chosen to be one of Uber’s vehicle development partners for their urban mobility solution, and our VTOL features next generation propulsion technology for achieving embedded lift. We have the concept which unlocks cost-attractive eVTOL opportunity by addressing efficiency and noise hurdles in vehicle lift, hover, and cruise stages of flight.”

Image // Pipistrel

Honeywell possesses more than 100 years of experience pioneering aircraft technologies across every application from commercial airliners to military platforms. This century of expertise and a wealth of technology innovation in avionics, navigation, propulsion and more has positioned Honeywell to effectively collaborate with Pipistrel on defining a future for the emerging urban air mobility space.

“The urban air mobility market is a challenging space, but one that Honeywell is well positioned to support and grow,” said Carl Esposito, president, Electronic Solutions. “Companies looking to make breakthroughs in urban air mobility face a wide range of technical, safety, certification and business challenges that come with developing a new mode of travel in an already very dense air traffic environment. An understanding of the aerospace complexities and legacy of innovative technologies can make all the difference in addressing this emerging market. Pipistrel is a well-known leader in the light-aircraft space, and this is an excellent opportunity to support its vision of a future vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with our industry-leading avionics, flight control systems, and other potential products and services.”

Pipistrel is a world leading small aircraft designer and producer, specialized in electric-powered aircraft. With 30 years of experience Pipistrel has gained significant international reputation and delivered unique, innovative products to passionate customers on all continents. First-to-fly an electric two-seater in 2007 and first-to-fly an electric four-seat airplane which went on to win the NASA Green Flight Challenge in 2011, Pipistrel has produced more than 1,500 aircraft to-date. The Pipistrel Vertical Solutions team has designed eight different electric aircraft since 2007 and has developed aircraft propulsion systems for NASA and Siemens’s aircraft. The company holds an EASA Design, Production and Maintenance Organization Approvals and has the capability of bringing a new aircraft design concept from a basic idea into a certified design, ready for production.

Why it’s important: This MoU established another partnership in the UAM space that is indicative of a recent trend for collaboration between aerospace companies to leverage individual strengths on the road to certification. By combining expertise, Pipistrel and Honeywell can focus on their strengths, respectively, and still end up with a superior product.

Learn more about Pipistrel’s eVTOL Concept here.

Subscribe to the Urban Aviation Newsletter and the Urban Aviation Podcast on iTunes.

The Onyx eVTOL by Imaginactive

17 January 2019 || 3 min read

The idea behind the Onyx is to create an eVTOL ‘flying car’ that won’t need a change in the infrastructure around it. For this reason, the Onyx is designed to fit into a standard car parking space. Designed by Charles Champagne and Jorge Ciprian of Imaginactive, the Onyx has six rotors: four in the front and two in the back. Like the...

The Onyx eVTOL by Imaginactive

17 January 2019 || 3 min read

Designed by Charles Champagne and Jorge Ciprian of Imaginactive, the Onyx has six rotors: four in the front and two in the back. Like the EHANG 184, each rotor set-up has one propeller on each side, making for a total of twelve rotors on the Onyx. Despite its compact SUV size, the Onyx can comfortably fit two passengers.

Passengers can exit and enter the sides of the vehicle through a glass-roof paneling

Although there still exists major regulatory barriers to employing a craft like the Onyx, companies like Uber, Boeing, and more are already working with government entities in multiple countries to set standards and rules for these aircraft. Particularly, NASA has recently set up the Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge series, the first event of which will take place in 2020 and will give companies the opportunity to exhibit the airworthiness of their aircraft and begin laying the benchmarks for regulatory law.

At Imaginactive, Charles Champagne and Jorge Ciprian hope that their design will enable traditional road vehicle spaces to be used for docking and recharging, making the Onyx more accessible than other eVTOLs that need helipad-sized landing spaces. The Onyx would also come with interchangeable battery packs that would allow for all-day urban transportation.

Why it’s important: The Onyx represents yet another innovative eVTOL design aimed at more quickly introducing eVTOLs into public life. While there has been no news yet from Imaginactive about whether the Onyx will be brought into the prototyping stage, the spread of this kind of design thinking shows the continuing proliferation of the world’s focus on eVTOL transportation.

Elon Musk and Flying Cars

15 January 2019 || 4 min read

While in the Elon Musk has past expressed opposition the idea of Urban Air Mobility, his recent actions may suggest a possible change of heart. In a 2017 Tweet, Musk brought up the possibility that the optional rocket tech package for the future Roadster will allow it to ‘fly short hops‘. According to Musk, “the SpaceX option package for new Tesla...

Elon Musk and Flying Cars

15 January 2019 || 4 min read

While in the Elon Musk has past expressed opposition the idea of Urban Air Mobility, his recent actions may suggest a possible change of heart.

In a 2017 Tweet, Musk brought up the possibility that the optional rocket tech package for the future Roadster will allow it to ‘fly short hops‘. According to Musk, “the SpaceX option package for new Tesla Roadster will include ~10 small rocket thrusters arranged seamlessly around (the) car…Rocket tech applied to a car opens up revolutionary possibilities.”

Most recently, his suggestions of a flying Tesla Roadster have been growing stronger. Just last week he tweeted the following:

The new Roadster will actually do something like this https://t.co/fIsTAYa4x8

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2019

With this post, he mentioned claimed that the Tesla “will use SpaceX cold gas thruster system with ultra high-pressure air in a composite over-wrapped pressure vessel in place of the 2 rear seats.”

At a TED Talk in 2017, Musk strongly opposed flying cars, with the premise that UAM vehicles are noisy, produce wind pollution, and will cause anxiety for people living beneath them. But in a recent note to clients this December, he mentioned, “Tesla has expertise in batteries, AI software, complete vehicle engineering, charging infrastructure and material science that we believe may have transferability to the autonomous aircraft domain”.

Although the jury is still out on which direction Musk will take with flying vehicles, he has continued to work on the ‘The Boring Company’, which plans to build large series of car-moving tunnels under urban areas to eliminate traffic. You can learn more about the Boring Company idea in Musk’s 2017 TED Talk, where he discusses the Boring Company in depth and explains he’s chosen the underground tunneling solution rather the skies. The Boring Company’s FAQ’s page also mentions the reasoning behind this choice.

The Boring Company and Uber Elevate plan to launch in Los Angeles within five years.Why it’s important:
While Musk has expressed opposition to the UAM solutions in the past, it’s possible that his interest in flying vehicles (as expressed by the potential flying capabilities of the upcoming Tesla Roadster) may lead him to make contributions to the autonomous air vehicle space with Tesla and SpaceX’s AI, battery, and vehicle engineering tech. Although Uber Elevate and Musk’s Boring Company are in competition for eliminating congestion, Musk may decide to contribute to a future that is both in the skies as well as under the earth.

Zeva Zero’s First Flight

14 January 2019 || 3 min read

A sub-scale prototype of the Zeva Zero has taken to the skies. The prototype, which was flown outside of Tacoma, WA, where the Zeva team is based earned the company a Phase II spot in Boeing’s GoFly Competition. CFD analysis of the sub-scale model show that the full-scale prototype will fly at speeds approaching 160mph. The Zeva Zero takes off...

Zeva Zero’s First Flight

14 January 2019 || 3 min read

A sub-scale prototype of the Zeva Zero has taken to the skies.

The prototype, which was flown outside of Tacoma, WA, where the Zeva team is based earned the company a Phase II spot in Boeing’s GoFly Competition. CFD analysis of the sub-scale model show that the full-scale prototype will fly at speeds approaching 160mph.

The Zeva Zero takes off and lands vertically, and transitions to forward flight by slowly decreasing angle of attack and increasing airspeed until the body of the aircraft creates enough lift for forward flight. The Zeva Zero will be flown during the October 2019 fly-off in the Boeing GoFly competition, and will be competing for the $1 million purse.

The Zero is a personal air vehicle, or PAV – which means that it is not intended for large scale commercial operations, but rather as a device for personal mobility. A number of other teams and universities are competing in the Boeing GoFly competition, with a total of 10 companies winning Phase I of the competition. Zeva is currently sponsored by the ANSYS Startup Program and has selected an all-electric design for their contest entry.

Additionally, the Zero’s intended size may be an advantage of the craft: two can fit into a standard one-car garage, making them significantly smaller than the majority of eVTOLs that are intended to transport larger numbers of passengers.

Why it’s important: Zeva’s Zero aircraft adopts an unconventional approach to vertical takeoff and landing aircraft configurations – much like the Vought V-173 flying pancake, the aircraft uses a semi-circular body for lift generation – but unlike the V-173 is completely vertical during takeoff and landing. While it can only carry a single passenger, the goal of Zeva is not commercialization of eVTOL transport, but rather sharing the excitement of flight with the world.

Learn more about the Zeva Zero here.

Workhorse Group Acquires $35 Million to Fund Electric Vehicle Orders

08 January 2019 || 3 min read

Workhorse Group has secured funding from Marathon Asset Management, which will provide funds in two separate tranches. A $10 million lump sum will be paid out and used principally to satisfy repayment of the July 2018 senior secured notes. The remaining $25 million will function as a revolving credit facility from which Workhorse may draw down as necessary to meet existing...

Workhorse Group Acquires $35 Million to Fund Electric Vehicle Orders

08 January 2019 || 3 min read

In June of 2018, UPS had placed record-breaking order for 950 Workhorse electric delivery trucks, which jumpstarted the electric vehicle startup.

Marathon Asset Management is a global investment advisor based in New York, NY with approximately $15 billion of capital under management, according to a release. “The firm pursues credit through a broad spectrum of investments in global corporate credit, distressed and special situational credit, structured credit, emerging markets and leveraged loans. A perfect fit for Workhorse’s needs, Marathon is uniquely positioned to quickly create innovative financing solutions that fit within Workhorse’s existing capital structure and its business objectives.”

Visit The Hangar to read more about the Workhorse Surefly’s technical specifications.

Workhorse CEO Steve Burns remarked:

“Marathon is the right strategic partner for Workhorse’s current capital needs, and we plan to leverage their experience, size and resources to further support our growth as a company. This agreement provides meaningful, near-term funding that will go directly toward building and delivering vehicles to customers in 2019. Additionally, we have repaid, in full, our previous debt obligations from July, which will remove all covenants associated with that arrangement, including the obligation to sell our eVTOL aircraft, SureFly. Going forward, our primary goal for both current and future capital initiatives is to leverage the best available financing solutions that will provide liquidity and favorable economics.”

Further, Duane Hughes, Workhorse President and COO, added:

“Completing these financial transactions and developing these strategic relationships are additional key steps in our long-term capital strategy. We plan to implement these measures and other near-term initiatives in the coming months to help drive continued growth in both sales and profitability.”

Why it’s important: As Workhorse competes for market share with other electric truck and delivery vehicle companies, this additional funding enables continued company growth and order fulfillment. Furthermore, immediate access to additional capital satisfies existing obligations to debt repayment and widens opportunities for sale of the Surefly eVTOL octocopter.

Bell Flight Unveils Nexus Prototype at CES 2019

07 January 2019 || 5 min read

Bell Flight has released its Nexus Air Taxi prototype at CES 2019. The vertical mobility company claims that the Nexus air taxi will weigh roughly 6,000 pounds, be able to fly at 150mph, and have a range of 150 miles. Bell Flight also announced that the air taxi will use augmented reality, as well as intelligent interior design to provide...

Bell Flight Unveils Nexus Prototype at CES 2019

07 January 2019 || 5 min read

Bell Flight has released its Nexus Air Taxi prototype at CES 2019.

The vertical mobility company claims that the Nexus air taxi will weigh roughly 6,000 pounds, be able to fly at 150mph, and have a range of 150 miles. Bell Flight also announced that the air taxi will use augmented reality, as well as intelligent interior design to provide a signature passenger experience that doesn’t compromise safety.

Image // Bell Flight

One of the important design selections that Bell Flight revealed was the decision to use a hybrid-electric propulsion system on the Nexus: featuring 6 ducted fans that have variable tilt angles to facilitate vertical takeoff and landing, as well as accelerated forward flight. The blades will be 8 feet in diameter. The Nexus builds from Bell Flight’s reveal of the passenger cabin of their “Air Taxi” at CES in 2018, which would eventually become the passenger cabin of the Nexus.

There are a few important distinctions that Bell Flight has underscored in the design of the Nexus; namely, the decision to bypass autonomous operation (at least in the early stages of flight operations) and also to use a hybrid-electric propulsion system. Other urban aviation companies are pursuing one of these design selections, but hardly any have down-selected both. The Nexus will carry four passengers and have one pilot, which fits with Uber’s eCRM standards for revenue-generating commercial air taxi operations. A commonly cited shortcoming of many air taxi designs is the passenger capacity – at least 3 (and preferably 4) are needed if a pilot is to be onboard the aircraft in order for commercial operations to prove profitable.

Image // Bell Flight

Additionally, Bell Flight has outsourced a larger portion of their design than many other eVTOL companies have – companies like Garmin, Thales, Moog, and Safran will provide avionics, flight control computers, flight control hardware, and the non-electric propulsion system, along with EPS providing batteries. Lastly, the design also keeps safety in mind: if one of the rotors fails, the aircraft will be able to land itself, and if the gas-turbine should cease operation, the small onboard battery will have enough power to allow the Nexus to land safely as well. Even the battery itself has containment cells that should prevent the spread of any undesired combustion.

Image // Bell Flight

Bell Flight’s experience in mass-producing helicopters and other aircraft will prove valuable as the company begins their production phase. Common among urban aviation manufacturing challenges is complex geometry composite fabrication at scale, as well as integration of entirely new systems, like that of the hybrid electric propulsion planned to be used on the Nexus.

Image // Bell Flight

Why it’s important: Bell Flight has finally released their prototype for their Air Taxi, which was kept under wraps less the release of the cabin mock-up of the then “Bell Air Taxi” at CES in 2018. The company’s announcement that the aircraft will be hybrid-electric, along with the confirmation that Bell Flight will be partnering with a number of well-respected aerospace companies on their eVTOL design adds much-desired clarity and definition to the path forward for Bell.

Learn more about the Bell Nexus here.

Rolls Royce’s New Flight Electrification Program (ACCEL)

04 January 2019 || 3 min read

Rolls Royce is taking a major step in the development for electric aircraft. Their new program, named ‘ACCEL’ (Accelerating the Electrification of Flight ), aims to break the speed record for electric flight by hitting upwards of 300mph. ACCEL is centered around a small test airplane built by Rolls Royce. The airplane is 12 feet long, made fully of carbon...

Rolls Royce’s New Flight Electrification Program (ACCEL)

04 January 2019 || 3 min read

ACCEL is centered around a small test airplane built by Rolls Royce. The airplane is 12 feet long, made fully of carbon fiber, and is fully electric. Within 24 months, the Rolls Royce team plans to build, test, and commercialize the airplane.

In addition to breaking the speed record, Rolls Royce also plans to break the record for highest power density achieved for a propulsion battery system.

Experiments like these push the R&D of electric aeronautics technology to its peak. These developments on batteries, weight, aerodynamics, composites, and more are all absolutely essential to the eventual realization of eVTOL air taxis (passenger drones). Companies like Rolls Royce with leading technology in these fields may eventually become leaders for the urban aviation industry as a whole.

Rolls Royce’s concept eVTOL. Rolls Royce mentions the main challenges it embraces with ACCEL are energy storage capacity and power train performance.

Rolls Royce’s main goal with the ACCEL project is to create technologies that will allow for all types of hybrid-electric flight in the near future. Said Project Manager Matheu Parr: “We are looking at the mid-2020s for when regional aircraft will be opened up for part-electrical power.”

The ACCEL program is Lead by 20 members of the Rolls Royce engineering and aerospace team and in collaboration with partners like electric motor and controller manufacturer YASA.

Why it’s important: With its record breaking developments in electric performance and battery energy density, the ACCEL program will hit breakthroughs in electric flight that are essential to the development of eVTOL air taxis. With eVTOL plans, Rolls Royce is positioning itself well at the forefront of the electrification of flight as well as urban aviation.

EHANG shares 2018 Recap; Overview of Passenger Flights

02 January 2019 || 3 min read

Ghuangzhou, China based EHANG released a video of some of their most notable passengers during flight demonstrations of the EHANG 184 air taxi during 2018. Notable persons include FACC executives, VC Fund Managers, the Mayor of Ghuangzhou, and others. The release of this video comes after the company announced on November that it will be developing an all-electric medium to...

EHANG shares 2018 Recap; Overview of Passenger Flights

02 January 2019 || 3 min read

The release of this video comes after the company announced on November that it will be developing an all-electric medium to long range aircraft that is capable of autonomous electric flight (the EH 580) and an all-electric cargo drone (the FlyShark 200) at the Zhuhai airshow.

Other notable achievements of one of the leading Chinese eVTOL manufacturers include the completion of demonstration flights in other test locales, not just Ghuangzhou – Amsterdam, Doha, and Mattersburg, Austria were among the other cities that hosted demonstration flights.

While the EHANG 184 Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) is not yet in a commercially operational state, EHANG is well versed in addressing some of the other challenges that involve low-altitude airspace and flight operations, such as navigating complex airspace in crowded, urban environments. The company has extensive experience with drone operations, and has agreements in place for drone delivery services in Ghuangzhou, China in partnership with Yonghui Group, a retailer. The company regularly performs “drone light shows” of which 78 were completed last year in 42 different cities.

Why it’s important: EHANG’s 2018 recap was not transformative, but rather contained validations of the progress of the company that many were following closely throughout 2018. Of note, however, is the very conscious effort the company is making to demonstrate that their AAV is safe, requires no special skills to operate, and is exciting to fly. The numerous public demonstration flights that are detailed in their recap video attest to the level of approval that many of the executives, press, and EHANG employees have when flying in the AAV. Keep a watch on EHANG in 2019 as they progress through the certification of the AAV with the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC).

Learn more about the EHANG 184 AAV

Eviation and ERAU Collaborate on Electric Aircraft R&D

02 January 2019 || 3 min read

Israel-based electric aircraft company Eviation may be “building the future of regional transportation” with the industry’s first all-electric aircraft. The company is based in Israel and stood up their US headquarters in Prescott, AZ during Q3 of 2018. Eviation is currently developing their first prototype, Alice, an 11-seat electric aircraft with 95% composite material structure. Alice is powered by distributed propulsion,...

Eviation and ERAU Collaborate on Electric Aircraft R&D

02 January 2019 || 3 min read

Alice is powered by distributed propulsion, one pusher propellor at the tail, and one on each wingtip of the aircraft for the sake of redundancy and drag reduction, providing for a cruise speed of 260 knots and range of 650 miles. Other articulated design features of Alice are the low operating cost (by avoiding traditional fuel), advanced materials and thermal management, vehicle autonomy, and minimized noise pollution. Eviation expects that the aircraft will be charged by mobile charging stations similar to aviation fuel trucks that are currently used – one hour in the aircraft would necessitate a 30-minute charge.

Read more about Eviation product specifications at https://www.eviation.co/

Eviation plans to collaborate with fourth-year undergraduate engineering students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) on the research and development of its electric technologies. Further, ERAU’s Prescott, Arizona campus will host much of the flight testing of its Alice aircraft, with first flight planned for 2019. The involved students plan to focus on preliminary design of future electric propulsion and airframe concepts, as well as perform analysis, validation, and testing. ERAU chancellor Frank Ayers emphasized that “by including Embry-Riddle engineers and students in the R&D pool, Eviation and the Alice Aircraft will take advantage of the exposure and knowledge from our best and brightest engineers.”

Eviation has been said to be the “Tesla of electric planes” and may “change everything about regional air travel” – the 53rd Paris Air Show shall provide a proving ground for the company’s technology. The Alice commuter aircraft is slated to debut at the Air Show in June of 2019, with first flight coming soon after. Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay told AIN that the company plans to have three flying prototypes by Q2 of 2020, followed by two to three years of certification.

Why its important: Eviation is taking a step closer to the commercialization of electric aircraft as an innovator in the space of regional transport, possibly to be the first to market. The company has also recruited young, passionate engineers at ERAU to continue to steer these new strides toward a future of electric-powered aviation.

Next Future Transportation Inc. Sets Sights on Affordable Door-To-Door eVTOL

30 December 2018 || 3 min read

Next Future Transportation co-founders are husband and wife, Guy and Maki Kaplinsky. Together they have assembled a diverse team, headquartered in Mountain View, CA with a center of excellence in Israel. The team is currently developing a multi-modal electric zero emission and advance hybrid system eVTOL capable of piloted or autonomous flight. The passenger flying car, with two or four...

Next Future Transportation Inc. Sets Sights on Affordable Door-To-Door eVTOL

30 December 2018 || 3 min read

Co-founders Guy Kaplinsky (left) and Maki Kaplinsky (right).

Additionally, the vehicle is designed to be powered by electric propulsion and an advance extended system, making it agile and adapted for cities. According to the founders, the NFT eVTOL drives like a comfortable, compact family car and can be easily parked on the street or in a garage, not requiring a sky port or other specialized accommodation. The target drive range is 62 miles | 100km and target fly range is 310 miles | 500km. Other key technologies include an Artificial Intelligence System, EV road driving system, and Blockchain platform.

NFT has a two-pronged approach to the possible applications of the company’s prototype vehicle. First is Guy and Maki Kaplinsky’s vision for an affordable, door-to-door solution to one’s everyday commute that minimizes wasted time spent in city traffic. To achieve this, NFT targets a sale price of $50,000 in order for the vehicle to be “accessible for regular people” as opposed to “a toy for rich guys”. As for the timeline of NFT’s eVTOL reaching the market, the company first plans to roll out the drive-and-fly vehicle as a cargo transporter, then for human transportation by 2025.

The second application of the NFT all-electric prototype is said to be “on-demand aviation” – a network of VTOL craft that would make it possible for users to summon flying transport whenever they’d like to easily mobilize within and between cities. Guy Kaplinsky articulates NFT’s competitive edge to be the need for only one vehicle during the commute – one would simply hail a vehicle and it would transport them from point to point without the need for another car or intermediary transit method.

Why it’s important: Next Future Transportation Inc. represents the increasing competition in the urban aviation industry, specifically those concentrated in Silicon Valley, CA. The company is currently ranked 281 on CrunchBase, with $5M in confirmed seed funding. The company’s international sprawl also demonstrates the worldwide scale at which the industry continues to grow.

Kitty Hawk Shares 2018 Recap; says Cora has Ballistic Parachute

28 December 2018 || 3 min read

Kitty Hawk Aero announced their 2018 recap today, marking the conclusion of a packed year for the Larry Page-backed company. Included in the recap was the announcement that Cora has a Ballistic Parachute Recovery system, not unlike what Cirrus Aircraft use today to achieve their high safety records. Kitty Hawk has not previously disclosed that Cora has such a recovery...

Kitty Hawk Shares 2018 Recap; says Cora has Ballistic Parachute

28 December 2018 || 3 min read

Kitty Hawk Aero announced their 2018 recap today, marking the conclusion of a packed year for the Larry Page-backed company.

Included in the recap was the announcement that Cora has a Ballistic Parachute Recovery system, not unlike what Cirrus Aircraft use today to achieve their high safety records. Kitty Hawk has not previously disclosed that Cora has such a recovery system in place.

Additionally, the recap included some concrete numbers for Kitty Hawk’s accomplishments over the last year: more than 700 test flights conducted, with at least five Cora’s built (shown in their recap video) and one partnership signed with Air New Zealand. One of the main points that Kitty Hawk emphasized as part of their recap was that Cora was situated between the confluence of rotor, fixed-wing, and autonomous car disciplines.

The Kitty Hawk Cora eVTOL is powered by 12 rotors that are oriented vertically and mounted to the wings of the aircraft. One pusher-configured propellor provides for forward thrust during conventional flight. The estimated cruising speed of Cora is approximately 180 km/h, and a “triple redundant flight computer” system allows for safety of flight path control, even in the case that one or two computer systems malfunction.

Image Source // Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk’s recap video is here. To learn more about the Kitty Hawk Cora, visit The Hangar – the one page market overview of the urban aviation industry.

Why it’s important: Kitty Hawk’s year-in-review for 2018 contained a fair amount of information that was already known to the public, but a few announcements – such as the number of flight tests conducted, and the mention that the aircraft has a ballistic parachute recovery system – have not been shared before. With the quantity of flight testing complete and the quality of experience of the many team members of Kitty Hawk working on this product, expect 2019 to be full of continued certification and flight testing efforts.

AeroMobil Applies Flying Car for EASA Type Certificate

27 December 2018 || 3 min read

AeroMobil has taken the next step in the certification of their AeroMobil 4.0 Flying Car by applying for a Type Certificate with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In 2019, AeroMobil will also seek to show compliance with the European Vehicle Certification Authority, proving both air and road-worthiness for the 4.0 Short Takeoff and Landing Flying Car. The AeroMobil 4.0...

AeroMobil Applies Flying Car for EASA Type Certificate

27 December 2018 || 3 min read

AeroMobil has taken the next step in the certification of their AeroMobil 4.0 Flying Car by applying for a Type Certificate with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

In 2019, AeroMobil will also seek to show compliance with the European Vehicle Certification Authority, proving both air and road-worthiness for the 4.0 Short Takeoff and Landing Flying Car. The AeroMobil 4.0 will be certified as a non-complex airplane with a takeoff weight of less than 1200kg, according to AeroMobil’s press release.

Doug MacAndrew, CTO of AeroMobil, stated that “we are delighted to be hitting this crucial milestone on schedule as we move towards manufacturing in the upcoming years. Building a flying car is incredibly complex and understandably EASA will be incredibly thorough when they analyse the design of our flying car, because this is a pioneering area of personal transportation. We are looking forward to working with EASA on the Type Certification process and showing how we’ve been able to incorporate the best aspects of automotive and aerospace technology into one design to deliver a vehicle that is both transformative, but also very much in line with the aerospace safety and regulatory requirements that exist today.”

AeroMobil is taking an incremental approach to the flying car industry, first directing their focus toward fixed-wing aircraft that are also road worthy. The next step for the company will be VTOL-capable aircraft, like the AeroMobil 5.0.

The Slovakian company also released new renderings of the AeroMobil 3.0 and 4.0 in flight:

Why it’s important: The formal application for a type certificate with EASA indicates the confidence that AeroMobil has in their products, and also that the company is ready to work with European regulators to certify a safe, efficient, and practical vehicle. Follow the certification process of the 4.0 STOL closely in 2019, as AeroMobil should serve as a relevant barometer for the relationship between EASA and urban aviation companies.

Learn more about AeroMobil and the company’s aircraft here:

AeroMobil 5.0 VTOL

AeroMobil 4.0 STOL

Categories

Tags

Archives

Category: Vehicles/Manufactures

Carter Copter Acquired by Jaunt Mobility

Carter Copter Acquired by Jaunt Mobility

Jetson Aero Tests the ‘Jetson Speeder’

Jetson Aero Tests the ‘Jetson Speeder’

Workhorse SureFly and AirSpaceX MOBi-ONE at Detroit Autoshow

Workhorse SureFly and AirSpaceX MOBi-ONE at Detroit Autoshow

Pipistrel and Honeywell to Collaborate on UAM Tech

Pipistrel and Honeywell to Collaborate on UAM Tech

The Onyx eVTOL by Imaginactive

The Onyx eVTOL by Imaginactive

Elon Musk and Flying Cars

Elon Musk and Flying Cars

Zeva Zero’s First Flight

Zeva Zero’s First Flight

Workhorse Group Acquires $35 Million to Fund Electric Vehicle Orders

Workhorse Group Acquires $35 Million to Fund Electric Vehicle Orders

Bell Flight Unveils Nexus Prototype at CES 2019

Bell Flight Unveils Nexus Prototype at CES 2019

Rolls Royce’s New Flight Electrification Program (ACCEL)

Rolls Royce’s New Flight Electrification Program (ACCEL)

EHANG shares 2018 Recap; Overview of Passenger Flights

EHANG shares 2018 Recap; Overview of Passenger Flights

Eviation and ERAU Collaborate on Electric Aircraft R&D

Eviation and ERAU Collaborate on Electric Aircraft R&D

Next Future Transportation Inc. Sets Sights on Affordable Door-To-Door eVTOL

Next Future Transportation Inc. Sets Sights on Affordable Door-To-Door eVTOL

Kitty Hawk Shares 2018 Recap; says Cora has Ballistic Parachute

Kitty Hawk Shares 2018 Recap; says Cora has Ballistic Parachute

AeroMobil Applies Flying Car for EASA Type Certificate

AeroMobil Applies Flying Car for EASA Type Certificate

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: