Synergy Aircraft Synergy

Last updated
Synergy
Synergy Artist's Concept.jpg
Artist's concept
Role Air Mobility
National originUnited States
ManufacturerDBT Aero
DesignerJohn McGinnis
StatusUnder development
Number builtNone

The Synergy Aircraft Synergy is a proposed five-seat, single-engine, kit aircraft, designed by John McGinnis of Kalispell, Montana and intended for production by his company, Synergy Aircraft. [1] [2]

Contents

The aircraft's closed wing design, termed a "double box tail", is intended to lower induced drag and be stall resistant, along with boundary layer control methods. [2] Many of the details are disclosed in USpatent 8657226  .

Design and development

Development was started in 2010 to develop the Synergy as a future kit airplane. The Synergy is the first aircraft that was designed to use the 200 hp (149 kW) DeltaHawk V-4 engine. An electric-powered 1/4 scale version of the aircraft has been built and flown via radio control. [2]

The Synergy design was unveiled at the 2011 CAFE Foundation electric aircraft symposium. [3] The aircraft was intended to compete in the 2011 NASA/CAFE Green Flight Challenge, [4] but its funding and engine were delayed, forcing the team to withdraw from the competition. [5]

After receiving the DeltaHawk engine in December 2011 work resumed and a funding drive was launched to complete the prototype. Intended as a Kickstarter crowdfunding project, the initial project application and appeal were rejected on the basis of not fitting in with Kickstarter's creative arts focus. [6] On 13 May 2012, however, Kickstarter informed McGinnis that they had reconsidered and that the project was approved. [7] The project raised US$ 95,627 gross funds.

By mid-December 2012 McGinnis indicated that the Kickstarter campaign had raised US$80,000 and that he was intending to have a flying proof-of-concept aircraft at AirVenture 2013. He also stated that if the aircraft is not complete then he will not have a display there. The Kickstarter campaign also attracted a lot of interest, but answering email and phones calls has slowed work on the prototype down. [8]

In May 2023 DBT Aero co-founder McGinnis was let go and replaced by Thomas Hatfield as CTO. [9]

In July 2023 the first full scale prototype received its FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the experimental category which allowed to conduct flight tests. [10]

Specifications

Data from Experimental Aircraft Association and Synergy [2] [11]

General characteristics

Performancemin level flight speed

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References

  1. ↑ "Synergy Aircraft Hopes to be the Future of Flight". Albertson, Kristi, Daily Inter Lake. 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "'Synergy' Project Revealed". EAA . 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  3. ↑ "EAA News - 'Synergy' Project Revealed". Eaa.org. 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  4. ↑ "Odd Diesel Airplane Aims For Maximum Efficiency". Paur, Jason, Wired (magazine) . 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  5. ↑ "NASA - After the Challenge: Synergy Aircraft". Nasa.gov. 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  6. ↑ "No Kickstart For Synergy". Avweb.com. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  7. ↑ Grady, Mary (2012-05-06). "Kickstarter Relents, OK's Synergy Project". AVweb. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  8. ↑ Pew, Glenn (2012-12-15). "Synergy Efficient Aircraft Ready For OSH?". AVweb. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  9. ↑ Williams, Paula (2023-05-01). "Senior Leadership Changes at DBT.Aero". DBT.aero. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  10. ↑ Williams, Paula (2023-07-21). "DBT Aero Achieves FAA Milestone, Clearing Path for Groundbreaking Sustainable Flight Testing Toward Certified Production". DBT.aero. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  11. ↑ Synergy Aircraft. "Technical Information" . Retrieved 15 September 2019.
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