Technology Demonstrators
Airbus Vahana & CityAirbus. Both are eVTOL vehicles
Vahana
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Aircraft type | Tandem Tilt-wing |
| Passenger capacity | 1 |
| Weight | 750 kg |
| Mode of operation | Self-piloted |
| Drive | 8 x 45 kW propellers |
| Demonstrated range | 50 km |
| Flight time | 20 min (longest) |
| Battery capacity | 38 kWh |
| No. of test flights | 138 |
| A wing configuration was important because this would be efficient during cruise mode | |
| Tilted wing are complex and there may be difficulties in scaling the technology |
CityAirbus
- Helicopter (hover) configuration
- Lift weight of 2-3 T (4-5 passengers)
- Remotely operated
- 8 x 100 kW propellers
CityAirbus NextGen
- Sound levels: 65-70 dbA (Noise level as observed)
- Demonstrated Range (Operating): 80 km
- Cruise Speed: 120 km/h
- 8 propellers (complex but not overly complicated - redundancy measures)
- 6 lifters
- 2 inclined pushers
- Two fins and horizontal stabilizer (Pi wing)
- Control is achieved by changing the rotor speeds
- No control surface (a conscious decision implemented for simplicity and focus towards learnings from the demonstrators)
- Remotely piloted for now, will remove pilot later
- V-shaped tail wing
- Simulation and Testing
- CFD
- Wind tunnel
- Subscale
EASA Special Condition requirements for eVTOLs (EU) in effect from July 2019 - Even if something goes wrong during a potentially catastrophic event, safe flight and landing is required In conventional helicopter and airplanes, a potential catastrophic event can lead to the loss of the aircraft but the probability of that happening should be reduced to 10
Follow Up
- How does the tilt-wing configuration work and why is it difficult to scale?
- Does the arrangement of propellers affect the noise produced by the eVTOL?
- What is the average and maximum altitude attained by eVTOLs?