Category: Uncategorized
GE and XTI Aircraft Partner for Hybrid Propulsion
XTI Aircraft, the developer a business-jet style VTOL, has officially announced a partnership with GE Aviation to provide propulsion for its hybrid-electric aircraft. XTI Aircraft’s luxury long-distance VTOL is capable of flying at 345mph for a range of 1200 nautical miles, seating five passengers, and of course, taking off and landing vertically. The company marks a major milestone this week...

GE and XTI Aircraft Partner for Hybrid Propulsion

XTI Aircraft, the developer a business-jet style VTOL, has officially announced a partnership with GE Aviation to provide propulsion for its hybrid-electric aircraft.
XTI Aircraft’s luxury long-distance VTOL is capable of flying at 345mph for a range of 1200 nautical miles, seating five passengers, and of course, taking off and landing vertically.
The company marks a major milestone this week by selecting GE’s Catalyst engine as the core of its TriFan600 hybrid-electric propulsion system. GE will not only be the supplier for XTI Aircraft, but will also work closely with the company to develop a series hybrid architecture that will meet the TriFan600 performance requirements.
Said GE Aviation Turboprops General Manager Paul Corkery:
“GE believes that parallel and series hybrid propulsion systems, those that include a turbine gas generator to take advantage of the energy density of jet fuel, will lead to much more capable aircraft for both traditional and emerging markets for many years to come. The Catalyst is a new, clean-sheet design
that will greatly reduce fuel consumption, enabling longer in-flight missions and increased payload
compared to other alternatives in this class.”
According to GE, The Catalyst engine is the first clean-sheet turboprop engine to hit the general aviation market in more than 30 years. Operating as a series hybrid generator, the Catalyst is designed to provide the propulsion and system needs of aircraft in the emerging hybrid propulsion market.
The selection of the Catalyst marks just one of many recent strides forward for XTI. The pre-order book for the TriFan600 is filling fast, having recently reached 80 aircraft. In addition, the company also recently announced partnerships with Heliflite and Icon Aviation, and released a video of its first successful prototype flight.
GE Aviation has been developing and distributing aircraft engines since as early as 1917, and has been researching hybrid electric aircraft for nearly a decade. The company is known for a myriad of widely used general aviation engines, as well as avionics, commercial services, military technologies and more. Since the Catalyst was unveiled to the public at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention in November of 2015, GE Aviation has committed more than $400 million in development costs for the program. Learn more about the Catalyst on GE’s website.
Notably, XTI is not the only company looking into hybrid electric propulsion. Also working in the concept is Voltaero, Rolls Royce Aviation, United Technologies, Bell, Airbus, and more.
Why it’s important: With the integration of GE’s Catalyst engine into one of the newest forms of aviation, GE highlights both its innovative capabilities and its industry expertise. By partnering with XTI, the company has done much to mark itself as an expert in hybrid propulsion for cutting edge aviation technologies. As a result, other hybrid eVTOL developers may begin to look to GE for propulsion as well.
GE Establishing itself both in Hybrid and VTOL. Much like Honeywell
Sabrewing VTOL Cargo Flights Are Coming to Saint Paul Island
Within ten years, VTOL developer Sabrewing Aircraft Company plans to bring cargo services to the Aleut Community of St Paul Island. The Aleut tribal community has ordered ten of the Sabre Wing aircraft, and are working with Sabrewing to develop a test range. Saint Paul Island is a small island off the coast of Alaska, only about 10 miles in...

Sabrewing VTOL Cargo Flights Are Coming to Saint Paul Island

Within ten years, VTOL developer Sabrewing Aircraft Company plans to bring cargo services to the Aleut Community of St Paul Island. The Aleut tribal community has ordered ten of the Sabre Wing aircraft, and are working with Sabrewing to develop a test range.
Saint Paul Island is a small island off the coast of Alaska, only about 10 miles in length. Presumably, this makes the island an ideal initial test site for the Sabrewing VTOLs, as areas of the island can be difficult to reach by traditional cargo airplanes. Sabrewing plans to develop and test its aircraft in Anchorage, completing tests there for both Department of Defense contracts and commercial customers.

Saint Paul Island as seen from the air.
Sabrewing has been working on VTOL technology for many years and sees its focus on cargo rather than passengers as an advantage. Said Ed De Reyes, CEO of Sabrewing:
“Most of the start-ups in the urban air mobility space are designed to carry passengers rather than freight. Air cargo is a completely different animal compared to manned aircraft…our competition has been trying to retrofit a manned aircraft to an unmanned one, which isn’t easy.”

Rendering of the Sabrewing Aircraft Company cargo VTOL.
Sabrewing plans on developing both two versions of its aircraft: one that with a payload capacity of 800 pounds and a later model with a capacity of 4,400 pounds. The company plans to power the aircraft with a hybrid system that uses a gas turbine to generate electricity for the electric motors. This design is similar to the one currently being tested by Rolls-Royce.
According to Sabrewing, the ACSPI (Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island) has already begun various types of drone operations. In exchange for testing facilities placed on Saint Paul Island, Sabrewing will provide equipment and training for the ACSPI community, who can then initiate and operate a complete test range complex.
Why it’s important: With the Department of Defense interested in VTOL cargo operations by Sabrewing Aircraft Company, the implementation of VTOL services on Saint Paul Island may prove to be one of the fastest in the industry. Saint Paul Island’s remote location and relative proximity to the Sabrewing base in Anchorage offers an excellent opportunity for system testing, giving Sabrewing the potential to take big steps for the VTOL industry.
Sources // Freightwaves
Airbus and Race E Partner for Electric Plane Race Series
Airbus has recently signed on as a partner to Air Race E, which will host the world’s first electric air race series in 2020. Air Race E was created under Air Race Events, the same company that created the Air Race 1 series that many know as formula one air racing. In this sport, eight participant airplanes race around a 5km...

Airbus and Race E Partner for Electric Plane Race Series

Airbus has recently signed on as a partner to Air Race E, which will host the world’s first electric air race series in 2020.

Photo of an Air Race 1 series, which many know as formula one air racing. The Air Race E series will follow a similar format.
Air Race E was created under Air Race Events, the same company that created the Air Race 1 series that many know as formula one air racing. In this sport, eight participant airplanes race around a 5km oval circuit at just 10 meters off the ground.

Blueprint of an Air Race 1 race course, which will also be used for Air Race E.
Airbus is partnering with Air Race E to drive the development of efficient and well-engineered electric aircraft. According to Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer of Airbus, “We want to motivate manufacturers to showcase their technologies across the full spectrum of electric propulsion systems and components. This partnership enables us to demonstrate our commitment to staying at the leading edge of electric propulsion and developing a new ecosystem.”
By testing these new technologies, Airbus most likely also hopes to push its urban air mobility capabilities forward as well. In November of 2018 at Drone Week Amsterdam, Airbus showcased the prototype of the modular vehicle Pop.Up Next, and last February it successfully flew the Airbus Vahana prototype.

Airbus Pop.up mock-up at Drone Week Amsterdam 2018.
Air Race E and Airbus are also working with the University of Nottingham to develop a prototype race aircraft. Part of this work has included building and designing the electric motor, as well as the battery and electronics systems:
In the past, Airbus has made other forays into electric aircraft. In 2015, it hosted the E-Fan project, which focused on building an electric aircraft to successfully cross the English channel. Since then, E-Fan leader and former CTO of Airbus John Botti left Airbus to work on the Voltaero hybrid electric aircraft. You can hear TransportUP’s podcast with Johnn Botti here.

The Airbus E-Fan project electric aircraft flown in 2015
Why it’s important: The development of urban air mobility requires tremendous growth in the electric aircraft manufacturing industry. Electric aircraft have a slew of new mechanical, aerodynamic, and legal requirements. By helping to put more electric aircraft in the air, Airbus is investing in research and technology that will greatly push forward electric urban air mobility.
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Emerging UAM Design Trends
This has been a huge year for flying cars. With the Bell Nexus recently revealed at CES, and the Boeing PAV making its first flight in this last month alone, the time of urban aviation is nearing. Over the last few years, a few designs have emerged as the most common. These are illustrated by the EHANG 184, the Boeing...

Emerging UAM Design Trends

This has been a huge year for flying cars. With the Bell Nexus recently revealed at CES, and the Boeing PAV making its first flight in this last month alone, the time of urban aviation is nearing.
Over the last few years, a few designs have emerged as the most common. These are illustrated by the EHANG 184, the Boeing PAV, and the Bell Nexus.
Type 1: “Passenger Drones”
While most air vehicles will eventually have full autonomy, there is a category of eVTOL that stands out as looking particularly like large versions of recreational consumer drones. These are what many people think of at the phrase “Passenger Drones”:
TheEHANG 184 (left) and Workhorse SureFly (right) and are examples of the ‘Passenger Drone’ design. Both have eight rotors; four on each stem.
These eVTOLs are recognizable by their lack of a fixed wing. Generally, as well, they tend to have lower top speeds and ranges than other more complex designs. However, they are extremely favorable because of their compact size and ability to be fully electric. Other similar designs include the Vertical Aerospace eVTOL and Volocopter 2X, which is set to begin testing in Singapore this year.
Type 2: Tilt-Wing/Rotor
These eVTOLs feature a wing as in traditional airplanes. These wings give them extra-lift during flight in order to increase range and efficiency. In many eVTOL designs, the propellers are built onto the wing itself, which tilts to face vertically for take-off and then tilts to a traditional horizontal wing position for cruising flight. Or Alternatively, the wing will stay fixed while only the rotors tilt, as seen in the Bell Nexus.
The Bell Nexus (left) and the MOBi-ONE (right) are examples of Tilt-Wing and Tilt-Rotor eVTOLs
Other tilt wing/rotor designs include Transcend Air Vy400, Dufour Aerospace’s aEro2, the Joby S4, the JETCopter, and the Lilium Jet (these last two feature jets rather than rotors).
Type 3: Multi-Position Fixed Rotor
This type first surfaced with the Larry Page backed Kittyhawk Cora. Then earlier this week, Boeing completed a successful Test flight of its Passenger Air Vehicle, which features the same design.
The design is fairly simple: Two parallel bars on which there are multiple vertical-facing rotors, along with one larger rotor at the back for horizontal flight. This design allows vertical and horizontal flight on a fixed wing without any tilting of wings or rotors necessary.
Boeing Passenger Air Vehicle (left) and Kittyhawk Cora (right) both feature a horizontal propulsion rotor at their rears.
One other aircraft that features the multi-position fixed rotor design comes from UberAir. Although this aircraft is only a concept with no prototyping plans, Uber Elevate is working closely with both Bell and Uber on UberAir.
Why it’s important: All the existing eVTOL designs have benefits and drawbacks and are likely to be used in different capacities, areas, and industries. Over time and with testing, it will likely become more and more clear which eVTOL designs should be used where.
2019 Detroit Auto Show to Host Workhorse Group’s Surefly Octocopter Exhibition
The 2019 Detroit Auto Show, also known as the North American International Auto Show, provides a global stage for companies on the cutting edge of industry-shaping technology to debut brand-defining vehicles. It is one of the largest auto shows in the United States. The Workhorse Group tweeted on Tuesday December 18 to “get ready, Michigan because we’re bringing the #SureFly...

2019 Detroit Auto Show to Host Workhorse Group’s Surefly Octocopter Exhibition

The 2019 Detroit Auto Show, also known as the North American International Auto Show, provides a global stage for companies on the cutting edge of industry-shaping technology to debut brand-defining vehicles. It is one of the largest auto shows in the United States.
The Workhorse Group tweeted on Tuesday December 18 to “get ready, Michigan because we’re bringing the #SureFly to @NAIASDetroit January 14th-17th!” On those dates, the Automobili-D show will gather over 200 companies showcasing innovations on topics such as urban mobility, smart cities, building a mobility workforce, and autonomous technologies. From the NAIAS website, “Detroit is where future mobility innovations meet the pavement” – or in Surefly’s case, the skies.

Surefly’s 4 arms and 8 contra rotating props allow maximum airflow and lift, achieving a top speed of 80 miles per hour.
Workhorse articulates the Ohio-based technology company to be “focused on changing the way the world works by providing sustainable and cost-effective transportation solutions. As an original equipment manufacturer, Workhorse designs and builds high performance battery-electric vehicles, including trucks, aircraft and drones.”
Given the Group’s strong rising presence in the automotive industry with the N-GEN and E-100 Vans, and W-15 Pickup, it is no surprise to see the team exhibiting their technology at the Detroit Auto Show in January of 2019. The Workhorse Group’s two-seat hybrid eVTOL octocopter is designed to be capable of passenger and cargo transit, as well as other applications such as first/emergency responders, military, agriculture, and more.

Safety is a top priority for Workhorse. Surefly is designed with a fully redundant system, a battery backup system that allows for 10 minutes of extended flight time, and a ballistic parachute located in the center of the arms for emergency landings.
To learn more about the specifications and features of the Workhorse Surefly, have a look at our Surefly Vehicle Page.
Why it’s important: This is an opportunity for Workhorse to showcase the Surefly’s technology and capability on a global stage. There is great potential to raise public awareness of the Urban Aviation industry and even increase consumer reservations for the Surefly.
Electrafly, Deseret Partner to Test Hybrid-Electric Multicopter in Utah
Electrafly, a self-funded aviation startup based in Utah, has announced plans to partner with Utah’s very own dedicated unmanned aircraft system test sight operator Deseret. Set to begin in 2019, flights over the FAA-sanctioned test area will work all the way up to forward flight of a single passenger. The aircraft, dubbed the Electraflyer, is a hybrid electric multi-copter, meaning...

Electrafly, Deseret Partner to Test Hybrid-Electric Multicopter in Utah

Electrafly, a self-funded aviation startup based in Utah, has announced plans to partner with Utah’s very own dedicated unmanned aircraft system test sight operator Deseret. Set to begin in 2019, flights over the FAA-sanctioned test area will work all the way up to forward flight of a single passenger. The aircraft, dubbed the Electraflyer, is a hybrid electric multi-copter, meaning it features the combination of a gas powered turbine and several electrically driven propellers. All-together the distributed propulsion system produces enough thrust to carry the 75 lb. airframe and a single person.

The electrafly prototype, with its four winged propeller arms, combines the best qualities of fixed wing and multicopter aircraft.
Deseret Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is a company dedicated to the advancement of drone related technology under development in Utah. Furthermore, it intends to attract new businesses to its home state. Tulinda Larsen, executive director of Deseret UAS believes “the biggest untapped resource in the U.S. and the world is our airspace”. Deseret currently has access to a smaller test facility, called the Xperience Center, and is working to secure larger FAA approved test sights throughout Utah.
ElectraFly’s founder and director of development John Manning is optimistic about the partnership with Deseret. “The work that Deseret UAS is doing is really a miracle for us in terms of how the timing is working out,” Manning said. “Having designated flight areas where FAA exemptions are in place is critical to us and the industry to making continued research progress.” Consistent effort is critical to new entrants in the rapidly growing urban air mobility market. In addition to the manned test flights with Deseret, Electrafly will pursue an initial application of its technology in unmanned package delivery.

Electrafly founder John Manning joins the wings to the center section of the prototype Electraflyer aircraft.
Why it’s Important: Test flights in designated areas will prove key in traversing the difficult regulatory landscaping that opposes urban air mobility startups. This partnership between Electrafly and Deseret UAS sets an example for how similar companies across the globe can prove their technology is safe and ready to launch.
Assen Aero Flight Tests A1 Hoverbike
Assen Aero successfully flight tested a prototype of their A1 Hoverbike. A video posted to Youtube earlier this week shows the bike flown remotely at low altitudes. This is the one of the first steps towards full scale technology demonstration, which may include Hoverbike races as early as next year. Assen Aero, based in South Florida, has been working on...

Assen Aero Flight Tests A1 Hoverbike

Assen Aero successfully flight tested a prototype of their A1 Hoverbike. A video posted to Youtube earlier this week shows the bike flown remotely at low altitudes.
This is the one of the first steps towards full scale technology demonstration, which may include Hoverbike races as early as next year. Assen Aero, based in South Florida, has been working on this aircraft for two and a half years and is confident they are on track to schedule.
The A1 is a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft combining a gas-driven piston engine and three ducted electrical fans for quiet lift. Focused on safety and reduced risk, the aircraft has a top speed of about 60 mph and can climb to an altitude of 4,000 ft. Assen’s CEO and founder justifies this moderate performance as a stepping stone for the emerging VTOL/air taxi technology. “We believe that the way to influence social acceptance is by removing the risk from the public and so we have focused on the leisure and extreme sport application as we believe these vehicles will blend more naturally into people’s lives in these roles” says Andonov.
Learn more about Assen Aero, the A1, and founder Assen Andonov in episode two of Flying Car Podcast here.
More information about the A1 can also be found on Assen Aero’s website or on our aircraft page.
Why it matters: Assen Aero is demonstrating confidence in their A1 prototype as excitement surrounding VTOL aircraft and Hoverbike racing grows. Flight tests depicted in their recent video show the design is progressing towards commercial readiness, planned for 2019.
Urban VTOL Carrier Quantum XYZ Orders Surefly Octocopters
Los Angeles based urban air taxi carrier Quantum XYZ has placed a pre-order for Workhorse SureFly hybrid-electric octocopters. Quantum XYZ plans to use the aircraft to be the first urban air VTOL service to market. Zeeshan Moha, Vice President and Chief Route Architect of Quantum XYZ told prnewswire.com, “We invite a future where safe, on-demand air travel is as ubiquitous as car...

Urban VTOL Carrier Quantum XYZ Orders Surefly Octocopters

Los Angeles based urban air taxi carrier Quantum XYZ has placed a pre-order for Workhorse SureFly hybrid-electric octocopters. Quantum XYZ plans to use the aircraft to be the first urban air VTOL service to market. Zeeshan Moha, Vice President and Chief Route Architect of Quantum XYZ told prnewswire.com, “We invite a future where safe, on-demand air travel is as ubiquitous as car service, a future in which aircrafts consume half the energy but generate twice the fun.” Quantum XYZ is currently pursuing FAA certification that will enable them to operate in the Los Angeles air space.
The Surefly octocopter is a futuristic design, featuring eight independent motors that drive eight carbon fiber propellers. With a hybrid-electric propulsion system, the aircraft has gas powered piston engines that provide power for its electric motors. It can carry two people, one pilot and one passenger, for a flight distance of about 70 miles or one hour. In case of emergency, the aircraft carries a backup battery power system and even a ballistic parachute for safe landing. This emphasis on safety will help with FAA certification of the aircraft, which the designer/manufacturer Workhorse is currently pursuing.
Surefly is one of many eVTOL multicopters that are eager to enter the air taxi market. Others, like Volocopter, are progressing rapidly towards certification, undergoing tests to demonstrate feasibility of operation. While the technology is reaching a mature point, certification of operation remains uncertain. There is no doubt that the future is exciting in this market.
Why it’s important: eVTOL air taxi service carrier Quantum XYZ has reached a point in their path to market entry where they are comfortable pre-ordering an aircraft for operation. The aircraft chosen was Workhorses Surefly, a hybrid-electric octocopter with exciting reliability that may lead to rapid certification.
Volocopter tested by German rescue service ADAC for Air Rescue
German rescue service ADAC Luftrettung is partnering with Volocopter in a study that will test the feasibility of electric vertical takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft for medical rescue missions. The study, planned for Spring 2019, will cost approximately $570,000 and will use the manned version of the Volocopter shown below. By supporting this study, ADAC Luftrettung is the first ever air rescue organization to test...

Volocopter tested by German rescue service ADAC for Air Rescue

German rescue service ADAC Luftrettung is partnering with Volocopter in a study that will test the feasibility of electric vertical takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft for medical rescue missions. The study, planned for Spring 2019, will cost approximately $570,000 and will use the manned version of the Volocopter shown below.
By supporting this study, ADAC Luftrettung is the first ever air rescue organization to test multicopters for emergency rescue services. The type of rescue mission under study will be transporting emergency doctors to patients in two emergency service areas, Germany’s states of Bavaria and Rhineland.
The Volocopter is a manned eVTOL aircraft designed to operate in urban areas. Its fully electrical propulsion system can carry two passengers a distance of about 19 miles. Due to its high level of redundancy, the Volocopter is an extremely safe and reliable choice for air taxi, heavy lift transport, and rescue services in all types of airspace.
Volocopter and ADAC are both very excited about the partnership. Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter firmly believes “in the Volocopter’s potential for large-scale use as an air shuttle for emergency doctors”. ADAC Managing Director of air rescue Frédéric Bruder says this is business as usual for the german rescue service, since “50 years ago, ADAC was among the first in Germany to field test the use of rescue helicopters.”
Why it’s Important: eVTOL aircraft like the Volocopter may permanently change the way air rescue is performed, improving response time in critical medical situations. Germany’s ADAC and Volocopter are taking the first step in making this a reality.
Lilium Adds Former Executives From Airbus and Audi
The Lilium air taxi is getting closer to market. It recently hired Mirko Reuter, former head of Automated Driving at Audi, Jakob Waeschenbach, former head of Equipment Installation at Airbus, and Rochus Moenter, former Vice President of Finance and Leasing at Airbus. Lilium is a German company based out of Munich. Its air taxi design is one of the sleekest on the market, and...

Lilium Adds Former Executives From Airbus and Audi

The Lilium air taxi is getting closer to market. It recently hired Mirko Reuter, former head of Automated Driving at Audi, Jakob Waeschenbach, former head of Equipment Installation at Airbus, and Rochus Moenter, former Vice President of Finance and Leasing at Airbus.
Lilium is a German company based out of Munich. Its air taxi design is one of the sleekest on the market, and with over $90 million in funding achieved just last year, its well on its way to being one of the world’s first on demand air taxis.
Mirko Reuter, the new Head of Autonomous Flight at Lilium, was formerly the Head of Automated Driving at Audi. There, he led the development of all automated driving functions, as well as the development of vehicle platforms technologies and future vehicle concepts. At Lilium, he will be responsible for the process of developing the technologies necessarily to bring autonomous flights completely to market.

“I am deeply committed to our mission of creating a revolutionary service that enables effective and affordable transportation that is widely used among all sectors of society. At Lilium, we are building a new and revolutionary way of transport, and I am very excited to be a part of it.” -Mikro Router
Jakob Waeschenbach, formerly the Head of Equipment Installation at Airbus, will be the new Head of Aircraft Assembly at Lilium. Waeschenbach spent years at Airbus ensuring quality in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, supply chain and finance. He also developed Airbus’s new and certified production line of the Single Aisle Family of aircraft. At Lilium, he will “lead the convergence between aircraft and automotive production”, and will assist in establish Lilium’s first production facility.

“I am thrilled to shape the early stages of merging automotive and aircraft production to finally change travelling and commuting in urban spaces. Catching onto this unique momentum is incredibly exciting.” -Jakob Waeschenbach,
Lilium will also be adding Roechus Moenter, who was the former Vice President of Airbus’s Finance and Leasing Group. Moenter will be the General Counsel and Head of Legal for Lilium.
The company is unique in that it plans to be a direct competitor to UberAir. Like Uber Elevate, it plans to roll out its services in 2025. Unlike many of the current eVTOL developers on the market, Lilium has not sought to become a partner for Uber, and instead has opted to develop its own operations and front-end service. Potential routes are Manhattan to JFK and Paris to London.
As a reminder, the Lilium is a eVTOL featuring tilted duct-fans that can travel at speeds up to 300km/h with a 300km range. It’s design features a total of 18 integrated jet engines that can seamlessly transition from horizontal to Vertical flight. Lilium completed it’s maiden flight in April 2017, and Lilium plans to complete it’s first manned test flight in 2019. Read more about the Lilium eVTOL.
Why it’s important:
With this major hire from two big players in vehicle innovation and production, Lilium further marks it’s place as main competitor for air taxi services. With Uber as one of the other biggest companies in the space, Lilium needs to be doing everything it can to put itself at the forefront of the industry, as conveyed by Lilium CEO and co-founder:
“To bring the best talent to Lilium has always been our goal. We are delighted to welcome such a high calibre of new team members that will bring a wealth of expertise in key strategic areas to our growing company and further enable our vision.”
Transcend Air’s ‘VIP’ Air Taxi Service set to Launch in 2024
Transcend Air has announced its plans for its air taxi service to launch in 2024. It’s not the first VTOL company to announce a date for service launch, with Uber committed to three cities by 2023 and Lilium committed to a 2025 launch. But Transcend Air is one of the first to offer a ‘business class’ style VTOL. The interior...

Transcend Air’s ‘VIP’ Air Taxi Service set to Launch in 2024

Transcend Air has announced its plans for its air taxi service to launch in 2024. It’s not the first VTOL company to announce a date for service launch, with Uber committed to three cities by 2023 and Lilium committed to a 2025 launch. But Transcend Air is one of the first to offer a ‘business class’ style VTOL.
The interior of the eVTOL is luxurious to say the least, with large cushy seats that face backward as in a business helicopter rather than in rows as in a commercial airplane or other eVTOLs.
Named the Vy 400, the aircraft is designed for somewhat longer inter-city travel with a range of 450 miles and private-jet level speeds of up to 405mph. It features a complete fly by wire control system. The initial three routes the company plans to offer are NYC to Boston, LA to San Francisco and Montréal to Toronto for prices between $280 and $330.
In addition to its 2024 air taxi service launch, Transcend Air also plans to open its pre-order book in late 2020 for those who wish to buy the aircraft. The Vy 400 should be priced at around $3.5 million according to Transcend Air’s website. The company has iterated 15 prototype VTOL models, and claims that its aircraft is ready to build owing to its quick-to-market strategy of integrating proven technologies already on the market. Despite this, the company guarantees complete safety with a full-aircraft parachute.
The Transcend Air team consists of CEO Gregory Bruell, who co-founded Elytron Aircraft, invested in Martin Jetpack and was CTO at Silverback Technologies. Other executive members include COO Peter H. Schmidt – President and Founder of Linear Air, and Richard L. Gersh who led risk management and regulatory engagement for Terrafugia.
“This is a necessary and transformative addition to city-to-city transportation options. It solves multiple problems at once: we’ll take cars off congested roads, reduce pollution around airports and lower the cost of air transportation while drastically reducing travel times.” –Founder Gregory Bruell
Why it’s important: As the VTOL flying car industry develops, it will begin to segment, which is what we are seeing here with Transcend Air. While many air taxi services seek to offset the traffic problem for the general public, Transcend Air approaches the ‘business class’ frequent flyer sector of the market. Their solution aims to solve the problem of private jets: they are too expensive and are not point to point. The development of Transcend Air exemplifies that air taxi services will be used in many different ways, and represents another new branch of the growing industry.
Peter Shannon, Levitate Capital: Technology is Redefining Flight
We hear a lot lately about urban air mobility and air taxis that are going to transform our commutes. Recently, I’m getting asked if we’ve yet reached peak-hype. I’m not sure people even agree what the hype is about, much less whether we’re at a crescendo. A common vein in hype is being led into an overly short-term mindset and...

Peter Shannon, Levitate Capital: Technology is Redefining Flight

We hear a lot lately about urban air mobility and air taxis that are going to transform our commutes. Recently, I’m getting asked if we’ve yet reached peak-hype. I’m not sure people even agree what the hype is about, much less whether we’re at a crescendo. A common vein in hype is being led into an overly short-term mindset and then getting disappointed. With today’s news cycle, and lacking a broader framework, this is an easy trap to fall into. To counter this, in what context can we frame aerial mobility? Let’s see if history can be a guide.
From the day Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis at Le Bourget in 1927, people have dreamed of when airplanes would deliver truly spontaneous freedom of flight, to move around the world as they wished.
At the time, Charles Lindbergh’s crossing of the Atlantic was a pivotal moment that inspired the world, bringing a wave of capital, entrepreneurs and engineers into the industry. Like today, there was a frenzy of innovation and businesses getting started. Their shared vision was that soon everyone would be flying aircraft at their own whim, like driving a car.
Aviation has come a long way since then, connecting the world, yet that dream has remained elusive. For nearly a century, flying for most of us has been constrained to mass-aggregation of people on long-distance, scheduled commercial air routes with only enthusiasts or the wealthy braving the expense and complexities of private aviation.
Why this outcome? Progress during World War Two raised expectations for a domestic revolution in the use of personal airplanes. Wartime advances in aircraft design and manufacturing combined with the large number of trained pilots and people otherwise exposed to flight fueled expectation that following the war there would be demand for hundreds of thousands of airplanes as soldiers returned. Indeed, industry responded, with ads during the war reflecting this expectation as manufacturers prepared themselves and the public for the coming new era in flight.
Things actually got off to a decent start. The general aviation industry sold a record high 33,254 aircraft in 1946. But it didn’t last long. A contraction in aircraft sales came about suddenly and violently. In 1947, the number of aircraft sold dropped by more than half, and halved again in 1948. Not until 1951 did growth return. After a modest recovery in the 1960’s and 70’s, general aviation aircraft shipments stalled, seemingly permanently.
Why did general aviation fail to scale? Simply put, the product didn’t meet the needs of the market. Operating small combustion-powered aircraft proved to be too expensive and frequent maintenance made it unreliable to depend on. At the same time, piloting an aircraft remained complex and steep training requirements held back the pilot population. These forces fed on each other, limiting sales and thus funding for product improvements and airport infrastructure. A stringent certification process also contributed — what was proven safe was often kept in favor of innovation.
Combined, these factors kept aviation as personal transport beyond the reach of mass adoption. This cycle persisted for decades. The technology was just not evolved and mature enough and the industry had no path to overcome it.
In contrast, commercial aviation thrived. Here, efficiencies could be gained through aircraft scale and complexity managed with highly trained professional pilots. Today, as we watch tens of thousands pass through mega-hub airports daily, we wonder — was personal aviation a misguided idea or just before its time?
The answer, in this case, is destined to come from outside. As we apply electric propulsion and automation technology to flight, we see how they upend core assumptions around the aircraft, its economics, safety, and usability; and moreover, the transportation system in which it will operate.
This is not simply an improvement; technology is literally redefining flight. Propulsion electrification, autonomy, and the connected aircraft have profound implications. Electrification turns the operating cost and maintenance equation on its head, while opening up fundamentally new aircraft design possibilities. Automation sidesteps the hurdle of pilot training, delivering the on-demand mobility experience as a passenger rather than an operator. Autonomy in aviation is arguably a more tractable problem than on the ground, as the decades of automation experience already in the aerospace industry indicate.
Thematically, these drive the emergence of three flight platforms: the drone, (hybrid) electric airplanes, and the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL).
Fantastic, sounds simple. Take that drone and scale it up, right? Be done in about three years, right? Nope. The pathway to redefining aviation with 21st-century technology is complex and interdisciplinary. Recent history with very light jets and light-sport aircraft confirms this. Contrasting cultures must merge — between the people who are driving technology innovation and the community that has tested, refined, and driven aviation to its current levels of safety and maturity. Each community has a lot to learn from the other.
With this as the challenge, investors naturally ask each other how aerial mobility will get funded — questions around the investment thesis, timeline, capital intensity, and gaps to address in this endeavor. For now, internalizing why this is worthwhile will guide us to answer how to make it so.
Focusing on the hurdles and timing to commercialization, platforms requiring fewer changes to regulations or infrastructure will commercialize first. For example, electrically propelled fixed-wing airplanes can be flown by today’s pilots, use today’s airports, and operate within today’s air traffic control system.
Yet, the operating cost reduction they deliver is compelling versus the aircraft they replace. Small training aircraft are seeing direct operating costs drop from $150/hour to under $30/hour. Apply this technology to short-haul regional airplanes and they can experience a 70% drop in passenger-seat-mile costs, making them a cheaper option than driving.
This has both direct market appeal for the aircraft, but also interesting second-order impacts. They will bring real change to how and when people fly and will drive new traffic through our nation’s 5,000 regional public airports. These airports haven’t had meaningful capital investment for 40 to 50 years. Likewise, the fleet operations business model will evolve as more vehicles are employed in on-demand mobility networks.
eVTOL aircraft take the capability set even further. Able to operate vertically, they vastly increase the potential for point-to-point operations. However, their uses are not limited to carrying passengers over cities. Their utility as a cargo logistics tool, an air ambulance, and for access to remote locations over water or terrain shouldn’t be underestimated.
The commercialization of an aviation platform lowers barriers to its adoption. With this, innovators across the economy will apply it to use cases solving problems specific to their industry. This breadth of application reflects the flexibility of aerial mobility as a nodal network. My article, The Big Picture — Aerial Mobility as Nodal Transportation, elaborates and places this in historical context. In future posts, I will give more attention to the rollout of the other platforms and associated opportunities.
We are at perhaps the most exciting time in aviation since Charles Lindbergh’s Atlantic crossing. When we look back to history to either reinforce or temper our present-day aspirations, we see a persistent vision meeting fundamental technology changes. The proof points that convince us we will build this next generation are already flying. Our challenge now is to coordinate our efforts as an industry to implement this vision with purpose.
About Peter Shannon
Peter Shannon is a partner at Levitate Capital and an investor in advanced aerial mobility, formerly in sustainability and tech. He is also an entrepreneur and software engineer, as an Editor for Radius Mobility.
AVCP Has a New System for eVTOL Safety
A new safety system for eVTOLs uses specialized airbags, a balloon-integrated parachute, and even retro rockets. One of the many benefits of Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) as seen in many personal eVTOLs is the design’s redundancy. If one rotor fails, there are still four or more available to make a safe recovery. However a completely failed eVTOL dropping can be...

AVCP Has a New System for eVTOL Safety

A new safety system for eVTOLs uses specialized airbags, a balloon-integrated parachute, and even retro rockets.
One of the many benefits of Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) as seen in many personal eVTOLs is the design’s redundancy. If one rotor fails, there are still four or more available to make a safe recovery.
However a completely failed eVTOL dropping can be even more dangerous than losing power in an airplane. This is especially true for eVTOLs without fixed wings, such as the eHang184 or the Workhorse SureFly.
A new company called AVCP-Active VTOL Crash Protection was incorporated on July 3rd 2017 with the goal of providing additional safety solutions for emerging eVTOL aircraft. AVCP points out that the parachutes in current eVTOL designs often still allow for impact speeds that can cause serious injuries. At heights of 100ft, some of these parachutes won’t even have time to fully open.
AVCP provides a ‘complete suite of active and passive safety technologies’. This product suite is made up of a system of retro rockets, under-belly airbags, energy absorbent structural materials, and a parachute integrated with a balloon. When the accident first occurs, the parachute is activated in one second with the assistance of the balloon. A retro rocket fires when the VTOL nears the ground, accompanied by the inflation of several basketball sized under-carriage airbags. Structural designs and ‘stroke seats’ will then help to further cushion passengers against the impact.
AVCP sees now as a crucial time for the industries’ acceptance, as well as the time when injuries are most likely to occur. It’s mission is to do all it can to protect the reputation of the eVTOL industry.
Why its Important: Solutions like AVCP add validity to the VTOL industry, and increase the chances of approval by government entities. One of the greatest concerns of any emerging industry is safety, and AVCP does much to assuage those concerns. The existence of AVCP also indicates the growth of the industry. As the industry grows , more third party solutions for safety, propulsion systems, aero-design, manufacturing, interior, and more will begin to emerge.
Netherlands Aerospace Centre Opens Electric Aviation Center
This week, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLC) announced the opening of its new aerospace innovation center in Marknesse. The Centre’s first move was to purchase Pipistrel’s new Alpha Electro aircraft. The Alpha Electro is one of the world’s first certified plug-in private aircraft. It made this purchase through a donation from PwC, which provides consulting, audit, and tax services. PwC’s ambition...

Netherlands Aerospace Centre Opens Electric Aviation Center

This week, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLC) announced the opening of its new aerospace innovation center in Marknesse.
The Centre’s first move was to purchase Pipistrel’s new Alpha Electro aircraft. The Alpha Electro is one of the world’s first certified plug-in private aircraft. It made this purchase through a donation from PwC, which provides consulting, audit, and tax services. PwC’s ambition is to be CO2-neutral business in 2030. PwC CFO and COO Michael de Riddler commented:
“With this donation, PwC wants to make a contribution to accelerating the transition to electric flight. As a user, an international organization with clients worldwide, we want to take our responsibility by pursuing CO2 reduction, offsetting and innovation.”
The Netherlands Aerospace Centre will house its new “Living Lab for Electric Flight” within the facility/ There, it plans to work with the newly attained Pipistrel Alpha Electro Aircraft to develop electric aviation technologies further. Goals include extending range through aerodynamics and battery advancements.
At the launch of the new center and the Living Lab, Wright Electric’s Jeff Angler spoke to the future of electric flight. Wight Electric is an startup developing technology for commercially viable electric aircraft. Wright Electric has partnered with Easyjet, a commercial operator in Europe. Easyjet aims to put electric planes in the skies within twenty years. Initial routes would go up to 540 kilometers, carrying 150 passengers, and go between places like Amsterdam, Paris, and Europe.
Said by Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure:
“The Netherlands is highly successful in aerospace technology. This is precisely how it should be, because demand for air transport is continuing to grow. But we can’t simply go on building more and more planes. The aircraft also need to be lighter, must be equipped with new technology and have more economical engines. They present new challenges and we must look for the answers. Wherever new ideas must lead to new possibilities, there is a need for incubators. This new NLR complex is such an incubator.”
Why It’s Important:
Investment from both a large company like PwC and a country like the Netherlands in electric aviation is huge news for the flying car industry. While the existence of short-distance electric jets in Europe might compete with flying cars, no flying cars can come at all without significant advances in aerodynamic and battery technology. The innovation created by the Netherlands Aerospace Center will further the electric aviation industry, and will encourage additional investment in the flying car eVTOL industry.
Japan’s Flying Car Team now includes Subaru, Boeing, and More
At the end of August, Japan began an initiative to jumpstart the flying car industry. It’s taken its first steps by actively recruiting Subaru, Boeing, Uber Japan, Airbus Japan, and more. Japan plans to have flying cars in the air by 2020. It’s Ministry of Trade, Economy, and Industry initiated meetings with both private and public sectors last month. In...

Japan’s Flying Car Team now includes Subaru, Boeing, and More

At the end of August, Japan began an initiative to jumpstart the flying car industry. It’s taken its first steps by actively recruiting Subaru, Boeing, Uber Japan, Airbus Japan, and more.
Japan plans to have flying cars in the air by 2020. It’s Ministry of Trade, Economy, and Industry initiated meetings with both private and public sectors last month. In the U.S, NASA is beginning to work with private companies on UAV (drone) mapping systems, but Japan is one of the first countries to move the focus to passenger-carrying eVTOLs.
While many refer to these new vehicles and services as flying cars, Japan prefers to refer to the new movement as a ‘mobility service’. With the initiative, Japan hopes to solve its plethora of ground transportation problems, which include heavy traffic, difficult-to-navigate mountainous regions, and remote islands.
The latest recruit to the Japanese flying car coalition, as of yesterday, is Subaru. Although not widely known, Subaru has an aerospace division as well as automotive. Specifically, it developed attack helicopters for the Japanse air force. It also designs and builds lightweight carbon composites for Boeing’s 767 and 777. As of 2015, it signed an agreement with Boeing to work on the 777X’s center wing box. It even has begun research projects for unmanned aerial vehicles and delivers a full trainer aircraft to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
Japan hopes to complete a ‘roadmap’ for flying cars within its infrastructure by the end of the year. It has enlisted 21 companies total, including Toyota’s Cartivator, Japan Airlines, ANA Holdings, and Yamato Holdings. It held its Public-Private Conference for Future Air Mobility on August 29th.
Why it’s important: Japan’s addition of Subaru to the flying car initiative indicates the wide variety of companies and industries that will contribute. It also lends an extra layer of certainty and credibility to the flying car industry. Subaru’s choice to join the flying car force may send signals to other big auto industry players like GM and Volkswagen to start developing their own technologies.
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