Results for: jaunt air mobility

Skyports shares how new Carbonix partnership will scale BVLOS drone operations in Australia

Lilium begins eVTOL Jet fuselage assembly with Aciturri

Cyclorotor Conducts First Flight of Unique Unmanned Aircraft Configuration

EmbraerX eVTOL

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe EmbraerX eVTOL is the innovation group's newest concept from the Brazilian manufacturer, and also a project that may in the future become more linked to Boeing as Embraer and Boeing continue talks about partnerships. The EmbraerX eVTOL was announced at the 2nd Annual Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles, CA on May 8th, 2018. Embraer has been quite secretive...

EmbraerX eVTOL

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The EmbraerX eVTOL is the innovation group's newest concept from the Brazilian manufacturer, and also a project that may in the future become more linked to Boeing as Embraer and Boeing continue talks about partnerships.

The EmbraerX eVTOL was announced at the 2nd Annual Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles, CA on May 8th, 2018. Embraer has been quite secretive about its plans for an eVTOL, despite Uber's naming it as one of eight partners supporting the ride-hailing group’s plans to launch air taxi services from 2023.

Embraer SA, a Sao Paulo, Brazil company.

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Winged VTOL

Powerplant: All-Electric

Range: Unknown

Top Speed: Unknown

Propeller Configuration: 10 total. 8 electric propellers for vertical lift and 2 ducted pusher propellers

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 1 Pilot, 4 Passengers

Autonomy Level: Piloted

Dimensions: Unknown

Other Information:

Weight: About one (1) ton

Cruise Altitude: 2,600-3,300 ft (800-1000 m)

Landing gear: Two helicopter-like skids

Few technical details have been released on the EmbraerX at this time. The proposed launch is most likely around 2023 or 2024, according to Embraer CEO Souza.

From EmbraerX:

Our Take on Embraer's eVTOL

Embraer's eVTOL concept is quite new, but definitely supported with a massive pool of resources that Embraer carries throughout all of its R&D, commercial, and military aircraft production processes. If Embraer can pivot the application of these technologies to the eVTOL field, they stand in a great place to successfully certify their aircraft. however, they are slightly behind pace of some other manufacturers in the flight testing process. Other interesting relations are developing as well, since Embraer and Boeing have been in talks for over 6 months about a partnership. During this period, Boeing also acquired Aurora Flight Sciences, which is developing their own eVTOL - an interesting move, seeing as a partnership between Embraer and Boeing would then directly compete with this initiative. Regardless of the business dynamics of the situation, Embraer is most likely making steady progress with their design and prototyping phase of the eVTOL, so stay tuned for updates to follow.

References

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Pipistrel 801 eVTOL

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Pipistrel eVTOL Concept was unveiled at the 2nd annual Uber Elevate Summit on May 8th, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. Previously designed as a blended wing body (BWB), the new 801 eVTOL features 8 lift rotors mounted on a lifting surface inboard of the wing. The Pipistrel team also announced that an entire family of eVTOL’s was being...

Pipistrel 801 eVTOL

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The Pipistrel eVTOL Concept was unveiled at the 2nd annual Uber Elevate Summit on May 8th, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. Previously designed as a blended wing body (BWB), the new 801 eVTOL features 8 lift rotors mounted on a lifting surface inboard of the wing. The Pipistrel team also announced that an entire family of eVTOL’s was being developed for scalability and mission-tailored performance.

However, the Slovenian electric aircraft manufacturer has recently announced a shift in its priorities away from it’s plan to develop the Pipistrel 801 eVTOL for Uber Air’s mobility service. This comes “after delays with the Uber flying taxi program by many international aviation authorities,” the company said. “Continual extensions to the deadline for the development of a flying taxi service, which was commissioned by U.S. company Uber, has given Pipistrel the time to investigate future opportunities, some [of which] have been in planning and development for several years.”

The Uber Air services are set to launch from 2023 in one or more of the early-adopter cities the company has identified, including Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, Australia.

Pipistrel, based in Ajdovščina, Slovenia

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Winged VTOL

Powerplant: All-Electric

Range: 60 nm

Top Speed: 175 mph

Propeller Configuration: 8 propellers for vertical flight; 1 thrust rotor for horizontal, level flight

Passenger/Payload Capacity: Single Passenger

Autonomy Level: Piloted, with Flight Deck provisions for eventual autonomous operations

Dimensions: Unknown

Other Information:

Motors: Powered by a redundant system of four battery packs, only two of which are required for safe operation at any time

From Pipistrel:

“Pipistrel is not trying to reinvent the helicopter by giving the vehicle many rotors, but is rather embracing dedicated propulsion solutions for cruise and vertical lift with built-in scaling capability.” stated Ivo Boscarol, Pipistrel's founder and general manager.

The company is also partnered with Elan, a Slovenian company that specializes in producing sporting goods. Elan also has extensive experience working with advanced materials, including composites, that are used in a number of its products."

Our Take on Pipistrel

While Pipistrel recently decided to postpone the development of its 801 eVTOL, the company has deep technical roots in manufacturing electric airplanes. The Slovenian company has a similar level of experience with designing, producing, and operating electric aircraft as do others like Dufour Aerospace. Because of this experience, Pipistrel will most likely be successful in implementing an electrical propulsion system in their eVTOL. Their biggest design hurdle is the all new BWB (blended-wing-body) configuration that to date the company has not deployed on a conventionally powered aircraft.

References

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Trek Aerospace FlyKart 2

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Trek Aerospace FlyKart 2 is a personal hover bike that uses protected fans to lift off and land vertically, and then transitions to forward flight through rearward diversion of the fan lifting force. The prototype competed in the GoFly competition with Boeing, but has not appeared to release any updates since videos of its flight tests surfaced in...

Urban Aeronautics CityHawk

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Urban Aeronautics CityHawk is a hydrogen-powered eVTOL that uses two massive ducted fans (front and rear) for both vertical take-off and forward thrust, by pushing airflow as desired. The CityHawk has intended uses as an air ambulance, air taxi, and even military vehicle. Several full-size functional prototypes of the CityHawk have already been built and flown.CompanyCEOProduct NameUrban Aeronautics, based...

Urban Aeronautics CityHawk

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The Urban Aeronautics CityHawk is a hydrogen-powered eVTOL that uses two massive ducted fans (front and rear) for both vertical take-off and forward thrust, by pushing airflow as desired. The CityHawk has intended uses as an air ambulance, air taxi, and even military vehicle. Several full-size functional prototypes of the CityHawk have already been built and flown.

Urban Aeronautics, based in Israel

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Wingless VTOL

Powerplant: Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Range: 93 miles / 150 km + 20 minute reserve

Top Speed: 160 mph / 270 km/h

Propeller Configuration: 2 front and rear large ducted fans

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 1 pilot and 5 passengers, 1670 lbs (760kg)

Autonomy Level: Piloted

Dimensions: Undisclosed

Other Information:

Empty Weight: 1,170kg

Max Takeoff Weight: 1,930kg

Cruise Speed: 234km/h

Min. Fuel Flow: 280kg/hr

Max Fuel: 800 liters

Range (Pilot only): 360km + 20 min reserve

Estimated noise level at 150 feet: 76dBa

From the Urban Aeronautics Website:

Urban Aeronautics’ Fancraft™ technologies comprise an extensive portfolio of patented innovations that transform a basic ducted-fan design into the foundation for a new family of aircraft, uniquely suitable to urban environments, known as Fancraft™.

Three of the core aerodynamic breakthroughs are:

A “Vane Control System” (VCS), that is comprised of a cascade of vanes at both the inlet and outlet of the ducts that can be deflected either in unison (top and bottom) or differentially to generate either pure side force or pure rolling moment. The ducts (front and back) can also be deflected differentially to generate yaw. The bottom line is that the VCS generates 6 degrees of freedom entirely independent of one another and, for the first time, we have a vehicle that can move sideways without the need to roll and vice versa. In addition, the VCS generates such a great amount of control power that the vehicle can withstand gusts of up to 40 knots.
A set of louvers or similar devices at the front of the forward duct and rear of the aft duct that open during forward flight to allow the incoming flow to move through the duct and thereby greatly reduce drag to enable forward speeds of up to 120 knots.
Close aerodynamic tailoring between the lift rotors and the fuselage whereby the fuselage itself functions as an airfoil and generates sufficient lift at high speed (50% of what the aircraft requires) to be able to off-load 50% of the needed lift from the rotors.

Our Take on the CityHawk

Urban Aeronautics has very high levels of aerospace experience on its team (including experts from Boeing and military development) and has completed flights of Cormorant drones which prove the concept for the passenger CityHawk. The company's mission statement: "To create, manufacture and market a family of VTOL, multi-mission, utility aircraft known as Fancraft™ that are capable of operating safely in complex urban and natural environments" is ambitious; yet the experience of the team and the proof of concept technology already in the air warrants the vision. Urban Aeronautics also recently partnered with Hatzolah Air, the world's largest volunteer emergency response organization, to design a version of the CityHawk made for emergency rescue missions.

References

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Sting VTOL

23 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryAt this time, the Sting VTOL is little more than an artistic concept design; there is scant commercial information that is readily available for this VTOL at this time. The blended wing body design aims to take advantage of greater efficiencies during cruise flight, which would be indicative of the VTOL's tailoring for medium to longer range trips as...

EAC Whisper

22 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe EAC Whisper is a two seat eVTOL being developed in Caromb, France. The Whisper's design aims to provide the 'pleasure of rotorcraft flight without constraints of helicopter', by reducing noise levels, maintenance costs, and size. The EAC uses 8 rotors for vertical and forward thrust during flight. EAC plans to manufacture 10 units in 2020, 20 units in 2021, and 40 units in 2022....

Bartini Flying Car

22 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Bartini Flying Car is a member of McFly.aero - a flying taxi incubator company - that plans to develop an eVTOL with four ducted fans that swivel to provide power for vertical takeoff and landing but transition to horizontal positioning for accelerated forward flight. Lift is provided in horizontal flight by the body of the aircraft, the fans...

Bartini Flying Car

22 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The Bartini Flying Car is a member of McFly.aero - a flying taxi incubator company - that plans to develop an eVTOL with four ducted fans that swivel to provide power for vertical takeoff and landing but transition to horizontal positioning for accelerated forward flight. Lift is provided in horizontal flight by the body of the aircraft, the fans themselves, and the struts connecting the fans to the body.

Bartini, a member of the McFly flying taxi incubator

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Winged VTOL

Powerplant: battery powered

Range: 150km (battery) /55okm (hydrogen)

Top Speed: 162 kts

Propeller Configuration: 8 propellers, mounted on 4 swiveling fan ducts, each outputting 40kW

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 4 passengers

Autonomy Level: semi-autonomous

Wingspan/Dimensions: 4.5m x 5.2m x 1.7m

Additional Information

Range, km: †150
Payload, kg: 400
Take off weight, kg: 1100
Lift-to-drag: 4-5
Disc loading, kg/m: 2146
Battery weight, kg: 320
Battery density, Wh/kg: 200
Battery capacity, kWh: 64
Power output, kW: 320

Altitude above ground, m: 1000
Cruising speed, km/h: 300
Energy used for flight, kWh: 51
— hover (1 min for VTOL): 5.3
— cruise (30 mins): 45.9
Reserve energy, kWh: 13
Energy per 1 km, kWh:0.34
— per 1 km cruise: 0.30
— per 1 min cruise: 1.5

Our Take on Bartini

The Bartini Flying Car is one of the more novel flying car designs incubated by McFly.aero - most notably the decision to use ducted fans combined with a semi-lifting body resulted in a unique configuration. Additionally, the current design has a lift to drag ratio of 4/5 - which is aerodynamically very undesirable (normally an aircraft is designed to have a greater amount of lift than drag). This is most likely due to the configuration of the aircraft, and the lack of either a lifting rotor or some lifting surface, like a wing. Nevertheless, the Bartini Flying Car seems to have support from the McFly incubator, which is an umbrella to more than 10 other flying car manufacturers that plan on creating a network of air taxi hubs that feature shopping malls and other destinations that allow for greater connectivity between densely-trafficked areas.

References

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Cyclorotor Conducts First Flight of Unique Unmanned Aircraft Configuration

Georgia Tech HummingBuzz

22 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Georgia Tech Hummingbuzz is a conceptual design for a human carrying hover bike that was part of the Boeing sponsored GoFly competition.CompanyProduct NameGeorgia Tech Student GroupHummingbuzzStage of DevelopmentPreliminary DesignPrototype BuildFlight TestingCertificationCommercially OperatingTeam BackgroundWorking together for two full semesters to design Hummingbuzz was a broad base of Georgia Tech undergrad and grad students: Yuanxin (Adam) Shen (AE), Shuyi (Suzie) Wang (ISYE), Brian Eberle (ME), Alistair Sequeira (AE). The effort was...

Flike

22 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Flike is a single person hover bike designed and built in Budapest, Hungary at the Bay Zoltan Research Institute. It uses three ducted rotors to propel itself vertically during takeoff and landing, and then tilt the vehicle at a forward angle and accelerate for horizontal flight. The first flight of the Flike was successfully executed on March 7, 2015...

Flike

22 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The Flike is a single person hover bike designed and built in Budapest, Hungary at the Bay Zoltan Research Institute. It uses three ducted rotors to propel itself vertically during takeoff and landing, and then tilt the vehicle at a forward angle and accelerate for horizontal flight. The first flight of the Flike was successfully executed on March 7, 2015 at Miskolc Airfield in northeast Hungary.

Bay Zoltan Research Institute, in Budapest, Hungary

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Hoverbike

Powerplant: All-Electric

Range: Undisclosed

Top Speed: 62 mph

Propeller Configuration: Three pairs of ducted propellers

Passenger/Payload Capacity: Single Passenger

Autonomy Level: Piloted

Dimensions: Undisclosed

Other Information:

Ceiling: 30 m (electronically limited)

Endurance: 60 min (range-extended version)

Take-off mass: 400 kg

Maximum Payload: 100 kg

Design load: +3 g (-1 g)

Our Take on the Flike

The Flike is a novel and well-backed project in Hungary - but not much has been made public with regards to its certification progress in the past few years. According to the government-funded institute, the project has a wide range of applications from hobby use to military deployment such as border protection, or even rescue operations. The Flike was successful during its multiple flight tests in 2015, so there is the possibility that a great deal of additional advancement has occurred since that time. Check back to learn more about the Flike as the Bay Zoltan Nonprofit releases additional information and media.

References

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Dufour aEro2

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe aEro2 is one of Dufour Aerospace's eVTOL concepts currently under development. It is a winged eVTOL that uses two variable angle propellors mounted on the wing of the aircraft that swivel to provide vertical thrust for takeoff and landing and then transition to a horizontal orientation to facilitate acceleration to forward flight. Dufour is also known for successfully...

Dufour aEro2

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The aEro2 is one of Dufour Aerospace's eVTOL concepts currently under development. It is a winged eVTOL that uses two variable angle propellors mounted on the wing of the aircraft that swivel to provide vertical thrust for takeoff and landing and then transition to a horizontal orientation to facilitate acceleration to forward flight. Dufour is also known for successfully designing and flying other conventionally configured electric aircraft, and looks to build on the success of its aEro 1 electric CTOL aerobatic plane.

Dufour Aerospace, a Visp, Switzerland Company.

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Winged eVTOL

Powerplant: Hybrid or All-Electric

Range: 500 mi (hybrid mode) 75 mi (full electric mode)

Top Speed: 200mph

Propeller Configuration: 4 propellors distributed along a tilt-wing

Passenger/Payload Capacity: Single Passenger

Autonomy Level: Optional Pilot

Dimensions: Undisclosed

From the Dufour website:

Our aircraft uses a proven tilt-wing design concept which keeps the wings constantly under airflow and therefore offers outstanding stability and control even in very slow flight. An efficient tail fan provides pitch control in hover flight and ensures that aEro 2 is robust against changes in center of gravity and gusty conditions.

Four motors (two on each side) provide redundancy, with each motor temporarily able to provide twice the power to keep full hover capacity in case of a failure. The laminar airflow around the wing makes it less vulnerable to vortex ring state, strong wind and gust conditions in hover than any other aircraft.

The unbeatable visibility makes it safe to operate in congested areas and gives the passengers a wonderful view.

Multiple redundancy

Even without electric motors running the aircraft is still under the pilot's control: unlike a multicopter, the conventional plane configuration guarantees flight safety in multiple ways. If 1 or 2 motors fail on one side, or even if 3 motors fail the aircraft is still fully controllable and can make an emergency short landing within a couple of dozens of meters. And even in glide configuration aEro 2 is fully controllable and glides at a 1:12 ratio (like today's single engine light airplanes). Finally, the integrated parachute guarantees the last line of safety.

Operational safety is also paramount: similar to a helicopter, for the safety of passengers and bystanders, the rotors are positioned above head height. The passenger compartment is a strong monocoque construction and the landing gear can absorb impact energy if necessary.

Our Take on the aEro2

Dufour did what many other eVTOL manufacturers did not - they built a full size electric proof of concept conventional aircraft, named the aEro1, prior to moving forward with an eVTOL configuration. The company's iterative approach to testing its electric propulsion technology first on a proven configuration has evidently paid dividends, as shown by the success of its aEro2 eVTOL flight test program. As of July 2020, Dufour has just completed the first phase of flight testing of its VTOL technology demonstrator aircraft. Over the course of 550 test flights, expanding the flight envelope incrementally, the aEro2 demonstrated a high degree of stability and control in all conditions, including transitions from hover to cruise and back again.

References

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PAL-V

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Pal-V Liberty is a cross between a helicopter and a car. The Liberty is made by Dutch company Pal-V, which was founded in 2008. As September 2018, the company became one of the first to begin taking pre-orders. The aircraft will be available for anyone with a pilots license for about 400k USD.CompanyCEOProduct NamePAL-V, a Raamsdonksveer, Netherlands companyIr...

PAL-V

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The Pal-V Liberty is a cross between a helicopter and a car. The Liberty is made by Dutch company Pal-V, which was founded in 2008. As September 2018, the company became one of the first to begin taking pre-orders. The aircraft will be available for anyone with a pilots license for about 400k USD.

PAL-V, a Raamsdonksveer, Netherlands company

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Wingless, Roadable VTOL

Powerplant: Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)

Range: See Below

Top Speed: See Below

Propeller Configuration: Traditional Gyrocopter

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 2 Passengers

Autonomy Level: Piloted

Dimensions: Drive-mode: 4m L x 2m W x 1.7m H; Flight-mode: (Rotor diameter is 10.75m) 6.1m L x 2m W x 3.2m H

Other Information:

Maximum baggage load: 20 kg

Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 910 kg

Fuel type: Euro 95, Euro 98, E10 *

Fuel capacity: 100 l

* Unleaded automotive fuel, with max. 10% ethanol (E10), EN 228 specification, min RON 95 (min AKI 91)

Drive mode

Max Speed: 160 km/h
Top speed acceleration: (0-100 km/h)<9 seconds
Engine power: 100 hp
Fuel economy: 7.6 l/100km
Range: 1315 km

Flight Mode

Economic cruise speed: 140 km/h
High cruise speed (90% range): 160 km/h
Maximum speed: 180 km/h
Min speed for level flight: 50 km/h
Engine power: 200 hp
Maximum operating altitude: 3500m
Useful load: 246 kg
Landing roll distance: 30m
Fuel economy: 26 l/h
Take-off roll (MTOW, MSL): 180m
Take-off distance + 15m obstacle clearance, MTOW**, MSL***: 330m
Max Range (with ½ hour reserve fuel*, MTOW): 400 km
Max Range (with ½ hour reserve fuel, single person operation, MSL): 500 km

Our Take on the Pal-V

The PAL-V is very successful in that it is one of the first commercially available flying cars, however its design is not a radical departure from the more traditional gyrocopters that have been flying for decades. The engineering design skill for the PAL-V is exhibited by the folding component design of the product, featuring a rear facing propellor driving the vehicle forward and the free-spinning blade on top of the craft which provide inertial lift as the PAL-V accelerates to forward flight. PAL-V's greatest success is the successful completion of the design process (pending complete certification) and bringing their product to market. As of June 2018, the company was taking deposits for it's PAL-V craft - $25,000 for the option to purchase the Liberty Edition, PAL-V's flagship completely optioned, and $10,000 for the option to purchase a Sport model with fewer available options.

References

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Cyclorotor Conducts First Flight of Unique Unmanned Aircraft Configuration

KittyHawk Flyer

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryThe Kitty Hawk Flyer is a personal Hover bike intended for recreational use. It can be operated by anyone, and does not require a pilot's license to be flown. A number of public demonstration flights have already occurred.CompanyKitty Hawk CEOProduct NameKitty Hawk, a California-based corporation, operated by Zephyr Airworks in New Zealand.Sebastian ThrunFlyerStage of DevelopmentPreliminary DesignPrototype BuildFlight TestingCertificationCommercially OperatingTechnical...

KittyHawk Flyer

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

The Kitty Hawk Flyer is a personal Hover bike intended for recreational use. It can be operated by anyone, and does not require a pilot's license to be flown. A number of public demonstration flights have already occurred.

Kitty Hawk, a California-based corporation, operated by Zephyr Airworks in New Zealand.

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: VTOL, no fixed wing

Powerplant: electric motors

Range: 12-20 minute

Top Speed: >20 mph

Propeller Configuration: 8 propellers, octocopter

Passenger/Payload Capacity: Designed for one flyer

Autonomy Level: pilot-assisted

Dimensions: 13ft wingspan, 8ft length

Other Information

Height Limit: Operates between 3-10 ft off the surface of water

Vertical take-off and landing: Powered by 10 independent lift fans

Battery Life: Battery life will depend on participant weight, environmental factors, and forward speed.

Regulation: Part 103 Ultralight

Funding: $6.5M (unconfirmed), Larry Page is backing this project, so most likely more resources are available.

Our Take on the Flyer

While the Kitty Hawk Flyer's price has not yet been disclosed, the Kitty Hawk website is taking deposits for the Founder's Series Flyer - an invite only group that will have first access to the machine. Since the Flyer is so easy to use, and a number of public flights have already occurred, it is likely not long until we'll see this group of individuals purchasing, owning, and flying their new Flyers. Additionally, since the Flyer is certified under FAA CFR Part 103 - Ultralight - it requires no license to operate, although training is absolutely recommended. Expect widespread public adoption of using Flyers in the same realm as going skydiving - possibly something to rent out for an afternoon to have fun with. As for individual purchases open to the general public, that'll have to wait, for now.

References

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Cyclorotor Conducts First Flight of Unique Unmanned Aircraft Configuration

United HeliFlight Service – “A Canary for eVTOL’s”

21 June 2018 || 3 min read

Marisa Garcia outlined in Forbes yesterday the prospect of using new helicopter-connection services, like the recently announced United Airlines HeliFlight service, as a “canary” or sorts for the future success of eVTOL transportation. Namely, Garcia focused on the potential hurdles that eVTOL’s might have to overcome that make them similar to helicopters: the high investment in technology that mandates a...

United HeliFlight Service – “A Canary for eVTOL’s”

21 June 2018 || 3 min read

Namely, Garcia focused on the potential hurdles that eVTOL’s might have to overcome that make them similar to helicopters: the high investment in technology that mandates a high utilization rate for a return on any level of investment. Other similar helicopter connection services exist, like FlyBlade, which is independently growing as one of the largest on-demand helicopter and aircraft charter businesses in the world, but Garcia argues that even companies like FlyBlade start to lose ground when they partner with another transportation entity to provide true door-to-door service, like Blade did with Delta. Supposedly, that partnership will now neither be confirmed nor denied by a Delta spokesperson reached out to with that very question.

However, there are a number of advantages that eVTOL’s have over the conventional helicopters that are outline in Garcia’s commentary: they’re quieter than helicopters, fully electric, and as a result, lower impact on the surrounding urban areas that they’re slated to operate in. Additionally, the sheer volume of funding that has poured in over the past few years has allowed for rapid industry progress. Coupled with mergers and acquisitions by numerous aerospace firms, the industry is burgeoning with preparedness and a level of work intensity that has not crossed the aerospace field (in terms of aircraft development time) in history.

Why it’s important: As Garcia stated in her commentary, the next 12 months will serve as a great barometer for the success of commercial eVTOL implementations and also for on demand door-to-door transportation business models in general. Companies like FlyBlade are most likely seeking to expand their reach, if not implement the infrastructure to be the single B2C model that a consumer may use to get from their door in New York to their condo in Los Angeles. Time will tell.

Source

Forbes
Image // United

Joby Aviation

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick SummaryJoby Aviation is a Santa Cruz, CA based company developing the Joby S4 eVTOL. The S4 was kept predominantly under wraps from the public during the design phase, but in December of 2020, the company announced Military Airworthiness Certification for the S4 and simultaneously the company's acquisition of the Uber Elevate project. Joby's team is extremely experienced and has...

Joby Aviation

21 June 2018 || < 1 min read

Quick Summary

Joby Aviation is a Santa Cruz, CA based company developing the Joby S4 eVTOL. The S4 was kept predominantly under wraps from the public during the design phase, but in December of 2020, the company announced Military Airworthiness Certification for the S4 and simultaneously the company's acquisition of the Uber Elevate project. Joby's team is extremely experienced and has executed on numerous projects in the past that demanded a high degree of technical acuity, and the company is now one of the most well-funded eVTOL developers in the world. Notably, Joby has received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA, and has begun forming infrastructure partnerships around the U.S to begin commercial operations.

Joby Aviation, a Santa Cruz, CA, USA based company.

Stage of Development

Preliminary Design

Prototype Build

Flight Testing

Certification

Commercially Operating

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Winged VTOL

Powerplant: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) System powered by lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese-oxide batteries

Range: 150 miles

Top Speed: 200 mph

Propeller Configuration: Four (4) propellers tilt vertically including its entire motor nacelle, and two (2) of the propellers tilt vertically with a linkage mechanism

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 1 pilot and 4 passengers

Autonomy Level: Piloted

Dimensions: 35 ft wingspan, 24 ft length

Other Information:

Safety assurance in excess of CS-23 cert requirements
Unified flight control – extremely simple vehicle operations (SVO)
100 times quieter than a helicopter
Weight: 4,000 lb
Windows: Large windows for spectacular views for the passengers
Fuselage: Composite
Landing gear: Tricycle wheeled retractable landing gear.
First flight: On February 1st, 2018, a prototype executed a 15 minute, 15 mile loop which included a piloted vertical takeoff

Our Take on Joby

Joby's small media presence seems to be by design - Joby's team has been working with maximum intensity on bringing the project to fruition and testing their full scale S4 prototype. The company has recently closed large funding rounds - which included investors such as Toyota, JetBlue Baillie Gifford - and is demonstrating strong momentum as it stands up its new manufacturing facility in California. Once the facility is operational, it's likely we will be seeing substantially more news from Joby as it begins testing and certifying vehicles.

References

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