Results for: vickers aircraft

Horizon Aircraft just released the footage of its 50% scale prototype hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft completing initial hover testing. The Cavorite X5 is claimed to feature greater range and payload capabilities via the hybrid-electric powerplant and an in-flight battery array recharging feature.

Horizon presented the initial photos of its 50% Scale prototype of Cavorite X5 eVTOL in August of 2022, and by December had accomplished the first hover test. The company has just released footage of the event as seen above.

According to Brandon Robinson, CEO of Horizon: “This aircraft has exceeded expectations during initial hover testing. It is extremely stable, is capable of full hover at only 65% power, and has hovered with 20% of its fans purposely disabled in order to test system redundancy. This is a large-scale aircraft, with a 22-foot wingspan, over 15 feet in length, and capable of speeds over 175 mph. It continues to yield valuable data that is constantly improving our full-scale design.”

The company has a dedicated flight testing location at the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel located near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Within the first quarter of 2023, Horizon expects to achieve transition flight with its scale prototype aircraft. The prototype utilizes the same ‘lift and cruise’ design as will the full-scale iteration, meaning that its in-wing rotors lift the aircraft vertically before being propelled forward for cruise by a larger rear-facing propellor. 

Why it’s important: Following the the Canadian startup’s return to an independent path, after having separated itself through a stock buy-back from Astro Aerospace, Horizon seems to have made substantial progress on its vehicle development. The company’s funding, partly in the form of a Phase 1 contract from the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX unit, has evidently enabled Horizon to expedite flight testing and make notable progress.

Elroy Air, a company developing an end-to-end autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial cargo system, has signed an agreement with LCI, a leading aviation company and a subsidiary of Libra Group, for commitments to purchase up to 40 of Elroy’s Chaparral vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Deposits have been paid for the first 20 vehicles.

With this agreement, Elroy has now secured more than $2 billion in aircraft purchase demand for upwards of 900 Chaparral systems in the commercial, defense and humanitarian sectors.

“We’re experiencing an enthusiastic response to the Chaparral and its capabilities to serve as a key part of a safe, efficient, and capable fleet of aircraft to respond in emergency situations, keep pilots out of harm’s way, and enable rapid logistics in a new and sustainable way,” said David Merrill, CEO and Co-Founder of Elroy Air. “Through our agreement with LCI, the Chaparral will be available for financing — enabling much broader access to the aircraft. We are proud that the Chaparral will now be part of LCI’s aviation fleet and look forward to providing aerial cargo transport globally.”

The Chaparral is an autonomous VTOL cargo delivery system designed for aerial transport of up 500 lbs (225 kgs) of goods over a 300 nautical mile range, enabled initially by a turbine-based hybrid-electric powertrain with distributed electric propulsion, and specially designed aerodynamic modular cargo pods.

“Applications for the Chaparral include aerial cargo transport for disaster relief, firefighting and humanitarian operations without risk to pilots or the need for airport infrastructure,” said VP of Business Development & Strategy Kofi Asante. “What’s particularly exciting about our agreement with LCI is that it unlocks financing for the Chaparral for humanitarian use and enables us to share the Chaparral’s capabilities worldwide.”

Rendering of the Elroy Chapparal in flight with LCI branding

Why it’s important: As stated by Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI: “This commitment for the pioneering Chaparral system will enable us to efficiently support mission critical, remote logistical work and socially responsible humanitarian work around the world. It will do so in complement with the wide-ranging capabilities of our existing aviation fleet.” This announcement comes alongside Elroy Air’s recent move to Byron Airport in Northern California. The company is using the new facility to support full-scale ground and flight testing of its Chaparral C1 vehicles to validate safety of flight through a series of ground tests, which will be key to delivering the system to its customers expeditiously.

Source // Elroy Air press release

Related:

• Elroy Air Partners with Bristow Group for Cargo eVTOL Aircraft Purchase
• FedEx to Test Autonomous Drone Cargo Delivery with Elroy Air
  Elroy Air Receives Additional Funding From U.S Air Force

The FAA signed a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) document on November 21st that adds a “powered lift” aircraft to the existing types of air carrier operations, a move that would set the stage for air carrier regulations that would apply specifically to eVTOL and aerial mobility aircraft in the future.

The 98 page document outlines the mechanics of the new categories integration into existing regulations, as well as proposes the addition of “powered lift” aircraft to 14 CFR 110.2 and extends rules applicable to air carriers in certain operations to aerial mobility operations.

Additionally, the NPRM states that powered lift operational experience will be required for air carriers intending to operate powered lift type aircraft in air carrier capacities, meaning that the initial pool of powered lift experience will reside largely with OEM’s. Existing Part 135 and 121 carriers do not yet operate eVTOL aircraft as they’ve not yet been certified, and will seek operating experience with these new aircraft types as soon as possible to meet the proposed requirements for issuance of operation certificates (Part 119). Importantly, the NPRM extends beyond just Part 121 and 135, but also to Parts 91, 125, and 136 to ensure coverage and effectivity of regulations to the foreseeable applications of eVTOL use cases beyond just point to point transportation.

Why it’s important: The FAA’s movement to propose a new category of aircraft type be included in existing air carrier documentation is an important step for the FAA as they lay the groundwork for an innovative and disruptive type of aircraft that will challenge the current short haul to last mile status quo. Further, the FAA’s NPRM is currently under review and comment submission, meaning that the FAA will likely receive input from OEM’s developing aerial mobility aircraft as well as potential future operators as well.

The NPRM document from the FAA is located here.

Leo Aircraft, which is creating a compact eVTOL powered by all-electric jet propulsion, announced its prototype’s first manned flight this week.

Leo Flight has a vision for an all-electric aircraft that can take to the skies as easily as a traditional automotive vehicle uses roads. This means that the electric aircraft it’s designing will take up no more space than a common SUV, while still being able to seat two passengers plus bags and a pilot, and travel for around 250 miles per full charge.

The company was founded by Pete Bitar and Carlos Salaff in spring of 2020, and since won NASA’s 2021 HeroX challenge.

Unlike most eVTOL aircraft, Leo Flight’s Coupe is propelled using a system of small all-electric jet engines embedded in the vehicle’s sides, as well as pusher jets at its rear. Compared with competitor aircraft, Leo Flight claims that this design will increase efficiency and versatility, will keep the vehicle compact and configurable, and will be safer due to the lack of external propellers.

Also unlike competitors, the Leo Coupe will be designed for both private vehicle ownership in addition to commercial transportation.

Late last week, the company announced the first manned flight of its prototype. Although this flight was a tethered hover test, its success speaks volumes to the potential of this technology.

Why it’s important: Leo Flight’s Coupe aircraft currently has very few competitors in the space of compact electric jet propulsion, with the possible exceptions of the Lilium jet, and the Mayman Aerospace Speeder. The Lilium jet however has a much larger size footprint, while the Mayman Speeder currently has a much smaller configuration. This means that currently for its size segment, Leo’s coupe is the only aircraft offering this type of propulsion.

Other competitors in this size and target market segment include the Air One, and the Skyfly Axe, although both of these feature external propellor configurations. Given that Lilium has proven the feasibility of this kind of jet propulsion for vertical flight, Leo Aircraft has a solid chance at creating a dynamic and highly functional aircraft for this size category. Additionally, the company could also extend into other vehicle sizes and configurations using the propulsion technology currently under development.

Source // Leo Aircraft

Related:

• AIR ONE Completes Hover Tests, Receives Airworthiness Certificate (August 2022)
• Mayman Aerospace receives $1.25MM from USAF’s Agility Prime initiative (September 2022)
• Skyfly begins orders for its ‘Axe’ 2-seat eVTOL (Julu 2022)
• Lilium Completes Transition from Hover to Winged Flight (June 2022)

Archer has announced plans to ramp up production of its anticipated Midnight production model. According to a company press release, the firm expects to certify Midnight in 2024 and to produce 250 units in 2025.

This production rate will increase to 2,000 vehicles annually or 167 per month with plans to produce 500 units in 2026 and 650 units in 2027.

“We are in the process of developing the infrastructure necessary to manufacture Midnight reliably, at scale, and in a cost effective manner. We continue to expand our portfolio of foundational suppliers that will provide us with critical components for Midnight,” the company said.

“We now have more than 50 percent of our suppliers for our bill-of-materials selected, based on cost, with that being made up of global leaders in the design, development and manufacturing of aircraft components. We are excited by the significant progress we’ve made in securing world-class suppliers for Midnight that will support us in meeting our key design and operational specifications that will deliver on our mission and business objectives,” the company added.

United Airlines, Archer’s largest customer, has already placed a $10m USD pre-payment for 100 eVTOL units, but no other marquee orders have been placed for Midnight against competition with Joby, Wisk, and Vertical Aerospace, among others.

Why it matters: Achieving a production rate of 167 units per month would be an unprecedented rate for the aerospace sector. At their peak Airbus and Boeing produce their most backordered aircraft – the A320 NEO and the 737 MAX – at only 60-75 units per month. To achieve this rate, it would be helpful for Archer to secure several more orders, and take steps to ensure a streamlined supply chain.

Archer has announced its next generation of eVTOL prototypes and the first candidate for production, Midnight. Following on the success and lessons learned from Maker, Midnight is the company’s first production eVTOL prototype and will be unveiled at an open house event on November 16.

Earlier this year Midnight successfully completed its preliminary design review (PDR) and has been selected to move forward into production. The upgraded model is expected to have a useful payload of 1,000+ pounds to support 4 passengers and 1 pilot. The company has stated it is targeting a lightning fast 10 minute charging turnaround time to keep its aircraft in the air longer.

“From day one, Archer’s goal has been to build a commercially viable business that will revolutionize intra-city travel. We’ve made phenomenal progress in the development of our eVTOL aircraft technology and I am excited to share the aircraft that will deliver on that vision as part of our Open House event” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s CEO.

Partners participating in the event will include United Airlines, as well as global automotive manufacturer, Stellantis. Stellantis has been working with Archer since early in their eVTOL aircraft’s development, and are a key partner in Archer’s plans to achieve manufacturing at scale for its aircraft.

“Collaboration has always been a cornerstone of our mission,” said Tom Muniz, Archer’s Chief Operating Officer. “Delivering a safe, sustainable revolution in air travel will take our collective vision and expertise, and I can’t wait to stand alongside the Archer team next month to share how together we are bringing our long-term plans to life.”

Why it’s important: Like many other eVTOL makers, Archer has taken lessons learned from early developmental flight tests and iterated its design into a more mature production candidate. At the November open house event, we expect to find out more about Midnight’s technical and mission capabilities as well as the company’s progress towards certification.

Source: Archer Press Release

Related:

• United Airlines Completes $10M Pre-Payment for 100 Archer eVTOL Aircraft
• Archer, United Airlines Partner on eVTOL Operations

Electric short takeoff and landing aircraft maker Electra announced today that it has signed a letter of intent that brings Electra’s total aircraft orders to over 1,000 aircraft, which the company states is worth approximately $3 billion.

The aircraft sale was signed with private air mobility provider Welojets, LLC for 32 electric short takeoff and landing aircraft at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida.

Welojets joins a broad range of customers for Electra’s climate-friendly eSTOL aircraft including urban and regional airlines, charter operators, VIP transport, medical and emergency response transport, and helicopter operators. Electra’s customers are both established aircraft operators as well as new entrants re-defining how we move and transport goods using Electra’s next-generation eSTOL aircraft, and include Bristow Group, flyv, EBIRD, Harbour Air, Tailwind Air, Ravn Alaska, MintAir, Everts Air Cargo, Yugo, Gold Aviation, Skyportz, Flapper, Northwest Seaplanes, and El Azufre Resort. The global reach of Electra’s order book means that customers will fly in the US, Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Electra is currently developing a hybrid eSTOL aircraft that will enable people and cargo to transit more rapidly, safely, and affordably within urban and regional networks. The plane’s ability to take off and land in a space the size of a soccer field yet cruise at 175 knots, with in-flight battery recharging, enables flight operations from places previously inaccessible by flight including converted parking lots, barges, and very short landing strips. The piloted fixed-wing aircraft will initially carry up to nine passengers or 2500 pounds of cargo up to 400 nautical miles in all weather conditions.

Why it’s important: Electra’s order book is now substantially strong with four digits worth and multiple billions of orders in their backlog. The company will need to remain focused on operationalizing their production line and also balance their scale-up to meet that demand with considerable resources expended on flight testing their new eSTOL. While the eSTOL is similar enough to fixed wing aircraft enabling certification via more traditional aircraft classifications than some other eVTOL aircraft, its unique systems will require special attention and analysis in order to obtain a type certificate in the United States.

AT CNBC’s ESG Impact Virtual Conference on October 6th, Mike Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures, announced the company’s intentions to fly many 200-mile routes with electric aircraft by the end of the 2020s.

These routes will be flown by the ES-30 aircraft from Heart Aerospace, which will be able to carry up to 30 passengers.

The ES-30 in development by Heart Aerospace will feature both all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion modes. The aircraft will be able to fly 200km per flight in all-electric modes, and up to 800km in hybrid modes.

In 2021, United placed an order for 100 of these aircraft from Heart Aerospace, targeting routes from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport as key markets for the first batch of aircraft.

Said Mike Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures, in a recent interview with CNBC: “Initially we want to fly on routes that are 200 miles or less. But as energy density increases, that same aircraft will have a range of 250 miles, 300 miles, which is going to give us a lot more utility here connecting our hubs.”

Leskinen went on to mention: “Existing technology is going to either cause us to fly less, which is an unacceptable alternative, or continue with a carbon footprint, which we believe is equally unacceptable. We cannot continue doing and operating our business the way we do; it is imperative that we change it, and the way we’re going to change it is through investing in technology”.

Heart Aerospace has also taken purchase orders from Air Canada, Mesa Air Group, and Icelandair, and has received received investments from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and EQT Ventures. The company was founded in 2018, and only recently announced the ES-30 on September 15 of 2022. Currently, Heart is targeting a 2028 entry into operations for the ES-30.

Why it’s important: While Heart aerospace is not developing a VTOL aircraft, the development of is large-capacity ES-30 aircraft will take massive strides for the electric aviation industry, possibly by becoming the world’s largest passenger electric aircraft to take flight. By investing in Heart Aerospace, as well as in aerial mobility companies like Archer, United is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to the future of electric aviation.

Source // CNBC, Heart Aerospace

Related:

• Heart Aerospace Joins European Regions Airline Association (September 2022)
• Heart Aerospace Selects Garmin for its Avionics Package (December 2021)
• United Airlines Completes $10M Pre-Payment for 100 Archer eVTOL Aircraft (August 2022)

Eviation, developer of an all-electric aircraft capable of carrying up to 9 passengers or 2,500lbs of cargo up to 450 nautical miles, recently successfully completed high-speed taxi tests, and received a pre-order for 50 aircraft from Global Crossing Airlines.

Above: Photo taken in Washington state shortly after the Alice’s high-speed taxi test

Eviation’s mission is to transform regional air transportation by offering electric aircraft that are far more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to operate and maintain than traditional combustion aircraft. So far the company has made immense progress towards its prototype goals, with flight tests near in sight.

On September 18th, the 57-foot Alice prototype took high-speed taxi tests in order to prepare for upcoming test flights. In the high-speed taxi, the aircraft was able to generate enough lift for its nose wheel to lift off the ground. Said Gregory Davis, the company’s CEO and president, ““Building an electric aircraft is a war on weight, and it’s a war on drag. Our challenges are to get the best possible lift-over-drag ratio.” Each motor at the rear of the aircraft can produce 650 kilowatts of power, meaning 1.3 megawatts of power for the aircraft during takeoff.

Watch the high-speed taxi test below:

Also earlier this month, the company announced that it has signed a letter of intent with Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for an order of 50 Alice aircraft. GlobalX currently offers charters all over the world using its fleet of Airbus A320s, targeting customers like sports teams, school groups, or organizations that need to travel with large amounts of gear. According to GlobalX, Eviation’s Alice will help the airline achieve its goal of opening carbon-neutral charter services between the Bahamas, Florida, and the Caribbean. The LOI also indicates that deliveries of the Alice to GlobalX should begin in 2027.

Said Chair and CEO of GlobalX, Ed Wegel, “Eviation’s Alice aircraft is setting the standard in sustainable aviation, and we plan to offer the aircraft to our cruise line, tour operators, leisure travel providers, and business clients with a need for short-haul charter flights across Florida. The Alice aircraft will allow us to offer sustainable, regional flights to and from major markets, and is the first step in our initiative to be a zero-carbon emissions airline by 2050. We are proud to be a launch customer for Eviation and lead the charge in bringing carbon-free air travel to our passengers.”

Gregory Davis, President of Eviation, said: “Charter travel is attractive to both individuals and groups as it offers flexibility, privacy and convenience. Alice represents a pioneering approach to making this type of aviation sustainable for generations to come. We are delighted to enter this agreement with GlobalX, whose investment in zero-emissions flight demonstrates the airline’s commitment to cleaner skies, lower operational costs, and the provision of the most innovative options for air travel.”

Above: Rendering of the Eviation Alice performing regional transportation routes in the Bahamas

Why it’s important: While the Eviation Alice is not en eVTOL, it offers similar capabilities to transform regional transportation through the use of high-power electric propulsion. As with electric cars, electric aircraft are predicted to be far more cost-effective to maintain and operate than combustion vehicles. This could mean that as these aircraft ramp up production, regional and eventually long-distance air transportation could become far more prevalent and affordable. With these key announcements, Eviation proves effectiveness of its aircraft, and begins to lay down plans for entering into commercial operation.

Source // Simple Flying, Popular Science, Eviation Aircraft

Related:

• DHL Express to Order 12 Alice Cargo Aircraft from Eviation (August 2021)
• Eviation Unveils Production Configuration for its Alice Electric Aircraft (July 2021)
• Eviation Receives a MagniX Electric Propulsion Unit for its ‘Alice’ Aircraft (May 2021)
• Eviation Secures 150 Total Orders for its All-Electric Commuter Aircraft (October 2019)

Electra.Aero, developer of a hybrid-electric short take-off and landing aircraft designed for regional air mobility and logistics, has announced successful testing of its proprietary propulsion system.

Above: A rendering of Electra.aero’s eSTOL from Electra’s website. This image demonstrates the aircraft’s signature ‘Blown Lift’ technology, which uses the propellers to push additional air over the wings for extra lift. The aircraft will be able to carry up to 9 passengers or 2500lbs of cargo for over 400 NM of range, and will be able to take off and land within 300 feet.

Electra.aero, which recently acquired fellow eSTOL developer Airflow, has made another major step towards developing its aircraft by successfully testing its hybrid-electric propulsion motor with attached propellers. This static test gives Electra important insights into the performance of its system, and lends further confidence to the company’s flight characteristics goals.

The hybrid system is being integrated into Electra’s piloted technology demonstrator aircraft, to demonstrate and test Electra’s eSTOL ultra-short takeoff and landing performance and fuel burn savings. The technology is currently being developed for Electra’s 9-passenger eSTOL aircraft and will later be scaled to larger aircraft.

Said JP Stewart, Electra’s VP and General Manager: “Tightly coupling airframe and propulsion systems is the hallmark of Electra’s unique and scalable approach to providing net-zero emissions for regional and transport-category aircraft by 2050. Electra’s eSTOL aircraft uses this patent-pending technology for the urban and regional aircraft market, allowing a reduction of the 5 billion tons of CO₂ created by inefficient ground transport in personal cars every year.”

Above: Photo of the hybrid-electric propulsion system in static testing

Ultimately, Electra’s goal is to create an aircraft that significantly reduces operating costs, infrastructure requirements, and noise emissions as compared to current aircraft with the same payload and range capabilities. The short-take off and landing capabilities of the aircraft, combined with its low operating costs and high range capabilities, could open up new potential opportunities for regional transportation between cities and outlying areas. Electra already has pre-purchase agreements with several operators including Bristow, Yugo, Flapper, and FlyV.

Why it’s important: While Electra.aero’s aircraft is not an eVTOL, its design will allow it to take-off and land with less than half the energy of a comparable VTOL aircraft, within the distance of a single soccer field. This reduced energy requirement will allow the eSTOL to fly much longer distances than eVTOL aircraft, while still requiring very very minimal infrastructure as compared to modern aircraft with similar capabilities. Although Electra’s eSTOL may not work for urban rooftops, it has immense potential to transform medium-range regional transportation. With a traditional fixed-wing design, we may expect to see Electrica’s aircraft in operation very soon.

Archer, developer of an fully electric, passenger-carrying eVTOL, announced on August 10th that United Airlines has paid the company a $10M deposit for 100 of its initial production aircraft.

In a historic move this week, United Airlines became one of the world’s first major airplanes to make an official pre-purchase of a set of eVTOL aircraft. United originally formed a partnership with Archer in 2021, nearly simultaneously to the company’s launch on the New York Stock Exchange. Since then, United has continued to broaden its partnership with Archer, making further agreements towards commercial operations in May of this year.

This move marks a highly competitive approach by United Airlines, as American Airlines only last month announced an official financial commitment for delivery slots of Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 aircraft.

Archer’s ‘Maker’ is fully electric, with a range capability of 60 miles per flight at speeds of 150mph. According statements by United, the company envisions using the Maker to provide efficient, comfortable, and convenient air transportation within cities around the globe.

A prototype of Archer’s ‘Maker’ on the runway

According to a recent press release, Archer recently completed its production aircraft’s Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and is now advancing to the next stage of its commercialization efforts. The PDR lays out all aspects of the aircraft’s manufacturing requirements and specifications, necessary pre-conditions for regulatory compliance and market viability. It also ensures that that the development program is on track and the design is mature enough to proceed to the next development phase and kick-off of production of long lead time hardware.

Said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s CEO, “I am incredibly proud of the entire Archer team as we reach this milestone in our partnership with United Airlines. To receive a cash deposit is validation of Archer’s achievements to date, not only with flight testing and product development, but also a great signal of confidence in our roadmap to commercialization. We’re thankful to United for their continued partnership as we usher in this new era in air travel.”

Said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures, “This announcement marks a new important phase in our relationship with Archer, and our commitment to EVTOL technology. We are witnessing an inflection point where consumers, businesses, and policymakers are all aligned to prioritize technology that reduces the impact of climate change. We believe eVTOLs have the potential to both help achieve carbon-neutral travel and serve as an innovative new tool to change how United customers experience comfort, convenience, and efficiency during their commutes within cities across the globe”

Why it’s important:  United’s decision to place a cash deposit for so many of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft signals its desire to be one of the first airline operators to commercialize eVTOL aircraft, additionally lending a high level of extra credibility to the growing eVTOL industry as a whole. Following this commitment, the industry may expect a surge of renewed interest and growing investment, especially as American airlines recently made a similar commitment to Vertical Aerospace’s VX4.

Source // Archer

Related:

• Archer Aviation Goes Public on NYSE (September 2021)
• Archer Aviation’s ‘Maker’ eVTOL aircraft completes first hover flight (December 2021)
• American Airlines Solidifies Delivery Slots for Vertical Aerospace eVTOL Aircraft (July 2021)
• Archer, United Airlines Partner on eVTOL Operations (May 2022)