Tag: eVTOL

Urban VTOL Carrier Quantum XYZ Orders Surefly Octocopters

04 December 2018 || 3 min read

Urban VTOL Carrier Quantum XYZ Orders Surefly Octocopters

04 December 2018 || 3 min read

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.

Workhorse’s Surefly is a hybrid-electric octocopter intended for use as an air taxi.

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.

Quantum XYZ air taxi Los Angeles urban eVTOL

Quantum XYZ intends to use the Surefly to fulfill air taxi services in Los Angeles

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

01 December 2018 || 3 min read

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

01 December 2018 || 3 min read

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 latest manned Volocopter, which will be used in the study.

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.

The Volocopter is designed for urban operations like air taxi.

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.”

ADAC’s rescue helicopters were among the first in Germany to perform air rescue.

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.

NASA completes first steps in Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge

30 November 2018 || 3 min read

NASA’s Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge is part of a growing movement within the aviation community to develop a future urban air transport system. Here’s one artist’s rendition of how a future urban airspace might look. NASA is assessing responses to an initial Request for Information (RFI) as the first step in kicking off its Grand Challenge. Responses were due...

NASA completes first steps in Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge

30 November 2018 || 3 min read

Urban Air Transport concept from NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) website

NASA is assessing responses to an initial Request for Information (RFI) as the first step in kicking off its Grand Challenge. Responses were due November 16, 2018 and served to get a better idea of what organizations are interested in participating. Participants might include air vehicle developers, air traffic management system developers, the FAA, and others. Certain consulting firms, like Booz Allen Hamilton, have already started working through select scenarios.

Booz Allen Hamilton consulting Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenges

Booz Allen Hamilton is a Fortune 500 consulting firm headquartered in Virginia

The RFI document, released by NASA one month earlier, stated “each participant will each be challenged to complete a series of common safety and integration scenarios”. The actual scenarios will be released after NASA finishes assessing potential participants.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilot’s Association (AOPA) has expressed interest in getting involved with the Grand Challenges. A briefing published by the AOPA declared Senior Director of Airspace, Air Traffic, and Aviation Security Rune Duke wrote to NASA, reminding them that for the Grand Challenges program, “collaboration with other airspace stakeholders will be key to success.” AOPA has repeatedly shown interest in tackling metropolitan air transport challenges. They recently published this video from the National Business Aviation conference in Orlando, Oct 2018.

Why it’s Important:

The Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Grand Challenge is a multi-phase program that will, over the course of several years, identify and address the key challenges associated with accessible air transport systems in metropolitan areas. The first phase, named GC-1, will kick off the program by promoting UAM and building the public’s confidence in its safety. NASA plans to sponsor community learning and a possible flight demonstration as part of this mission.

SkyRyse Air Taxi to Launch in Tracy, CA

02 September 2018 || 3 min read

On August 28th, a new company called SkyRyse launched. SkyRyse is a new a air taxi statrup featuring a single-rotor helicopter with advanced tech features. It plans to launch air taxi services by 2019. The SkyRyse helicopter takes a major step toward autonomy for air taxis. It paves the way for the future of flying cars. The SkyRyse features an...

SkyRyse Air Taxi to Launch in Tracy, CA

02 September 2018 || 3 min read

SkyRyse Concept Comparison

The SkyRyse helicopter takes a major step toward autonomy for air taxis. It paves the way for the future of flying cars. The SkyRyse features an advanced piloting system with situational awareness and intelligence. Its system will be able to use data from other flights to provide safer and more efficient options. The software automates much of the flight control systems, taking the mental workload and room for error off of pilots.

Designed by experts from Tesla, Boeing, SpaceX, and Uber, SkyRyse has raised $25 million in seed funding. Mark Groden, CEO and Founder, envisions initial operations supporting city’s emergency response units, including law enforcement, search-and-rescue missions, and firefighters. He says, “Because the stakes are highest in emergency response situations when minutes can mean the difference between life and death, we’re launching SkyRyse Emergency Response to support governments and municipalities first, with plans to change how we get around our cities in the future.”

SkyRyse will begin operations in Tracy, California, and is based out of Silicon Valley. It’s backers include Venrock, Eclipse, Industry Ventures, Trucks VC, Cantos, and Engage Ventures.

Why It’s Important: While SkyRyse does not feature DEP (distributed electric propulsion), it’s launch marks a huge step in the right direction for air taxi vehicles. SkyRyse is quick-to-market approach to urban aviation mobility, using existing hardware to kickstart the industry. It’s launch promotes the acceptance of VTOLs as a usable form of transport, and pushes the technology of the industry further.

Dufour Aerospace Unveils aEro2; Continues Advancement of Electric Propulsion Systems

17 March 2018 || 2 min read

The Swiss-based team that brought the aEro1 electric aerobatic aircraft demonstrator to fruition has recently unveiled its plans for the aEro2. The aEro2 is claimed to be a two-seat tilt wing configuration with range of up to 120km (75 miles) on purely electric power. With a backup Auxiliary Power Unit, the aEro2 may fly as far as 800 km (500...

CEO Dennis Muilenburg Comments on Boeing’s Entry to eVTOL Market

03 March 2018 || < 1 min read

3 March 2018 || 1 min read The Boeing Co.’s CEO Dennis Muilenburg commented “I think it will happen faster than any of us understand” when asked about the time frame for commercialized air taxis and autonomous urban VTOL transports. Boeing’s recent acquisition of Aurora Flight Sciences now means that Boeing owns stake in Uber’s Elevate Initiative since Aurora Flight Sciences...

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Tag: eVTOL

Urban VTOL Carrier Quantum XYZ Orders Surefly Octocopters

Urban VTOL Carrier Quantum XYZ Orders Surefly Octocopters

Volocopter tested by German rescue service ADAC for Air Rescue

Volocopter tested by German rescue service ADAC for Air Rescue

NASA completes first steps in Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge

NASA completes first steps in Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge

SkyRyse Air Taxi to Launch in Tracy, CA

SkyRyse Air Taxi to Launch in Tracy, CA

Dufour Aerospace Unveils aEro2; Continues Advancement of Electric Propulsion Systems

Dufour Aerospace Unveils aEro2; Continues Advancement of Electric Propulsion Systems

CEO Dennis Muilenburg Comments on Boeing’s Entry to eVTOL Market

CEO Dennis Muilenburg Comments on Boeing’s Entry to eVTOL Market

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