XTI Aircraft Receives Japanese Patent for TriFan 600 eVTOL

XTI Aircraft has received a utility patent from the Japanese Patent Office for the technology and configuration of the company’s TriFan 600 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle.

Photo // XTI Aircraft

The XTI Aircraft TriFan 600 is an eVTOL that has been in development just outside of Denver, CO, USA since 2012. The aircraft uses three ducted fans to take off vertically which rotate towards the horizontal in order to facilitate forward flight. The XTI Tri-fan features a luxury interior, and is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern travelers.

“The patent issued by Japan provides further protection for our unique aircraft in a significant market for us, and enables us to continue to expand our global market,” said Robert LaBelle, Chief Executive Officer of XTI. The issuance of the Japanese patent follows multiple others received by the company from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

On August 5, 2019, XTI announced that due to success under its $25 million Series B private placement, the company is likely to close its equity crowdfunding campaign on the StartEngine platform before the end of 2019. This comes after the company released information regarding its partnership with GE Aviation to provide propulsion for its hybrid-electric aircraft. XTI Aircraft has also announced multiple orders of the TriFan 600 in the past year, notably from Icon Aviation – Brazil’s largest private jet charter company – and Heliflite, a VIP helicopter service in Southeast Asia and Australia.

According to a company press release earlier this month, XTI is following StartEngine’s plans to provide a platform for all XTI shareholders to buy and sell their shares on a secondary market once the crowdfunding campaign closes. “This secondary market will give investors the possibility of earning a return before the company they invested in gets acquired or goes public. ‘XTI will continue to sell shares for $1.50 on StartEngine until the offering closes,’ CEO LaBelle added.”

The six-seat TriFan 600 will have the speed, range and comfort of a luxury business aircraft and the ability to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. It will travel at 345 miles an hour, with a range of up to 1,200 miles. Using three ducted fans, the TriFan lifts off vertically. Its two wing fans then rotate forward for a seamless transition to cruise speed and its initial climb. It will reach 30,000 feet in just ten minutes and cruise to the destination as a highly efficient business aircraft.” To read more about the TriFan 600, visit the Hangar.

Why it’s important: The legal validation of XTI’s TriFan 600 technology and configuration in the international stage demonstrates the company’s global reach and ability to stretch past the borders of its headquarters state of Colorado. The fulfillment of over 80 orders for the TriFan 600 is eagerly awaited and will serve as an indicator for whether the company is capable of expanding its production to meet global demand.

Sources // XTI Aircraft

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