2X | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Role | Helicopter, personal air vehicle |
National origin | Germany |
Manufacturer | Volocopter |
First flight | 17 November 2013 |
Status | In production (2018) |
Developed from | Volocopter VC2 |
The Volocopter 2X is a German two-seat, optionally-piloted, multirotor eVTOL aircraft. The personal air vehicle was designed and produced by Volocopter GmbH of Bruchsal, and first introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen airshow in 2017. The aircraft is sold complete and ready-to-fly. Volocopter was formerly known as E-volo. [1] [2]
The design had its first flight on 17 November 2013. [1]
The two-seat project started in 2013, evolved from early single-seat Volocopter VC2 prototype flown in 2011. The two seat prototype is the VC-200 and the derived production model the 2X. [3] [4]
An initial on-line fundraising effort in 2013 on Seedmatch raised €500,000 in 2 hours and 35 minutes, setting a new European Union record. The money was used to build the prototype, designated as the VC200. [5]
The company received investments of €25M in 2017 to bring the design to production, including from Daimler AG. [6] [7]
A contract for serial production was placed with German sailplane manufacturer DG Flugzeugbau in April 2018. [6]
The aircraft was designed to comply with the European Class 6 microlight helicopter rules and be employed in air taxi service in urban areas. It features 18 fixed-pitch propellers, each powered by its own electric motor. Accommodation is two-seats-in side-by-side configuration in an enclosed cockpit with a windshield. It uses skid landing gear. [8] [9]
The aircraft is made from carbon fibre composites. The controls operate through a mesh polymer fibre optic network fly-by-light system. The controls are a triple-redundant primary flight control unit, plus a dissimilar backup flight control unit and a joystick control. The stabilization system employs gyroscopes, acceleration sensors, magnetic field measurement sensors and manometers. Chip-maker Intel is involved in the integration of drone technology into the design. Autonomous and remotely piloted control systems are under development. [9] [10]
The propellers are powered by three-phase PM synchronous brushless DC electric motors and are mounted on a spoked composite wheel mounted above the cabin. The motors are powered by nine independent quick-change lithium ion batteries, each one powering two motors. The batteries can be charged in 120 minutes normally or 40 minutes on quick-charge from the municipal power supply. The batteries use active air cooling. The propeller system can be dismantled for storage or ground transport. The propeller system has a diameter of 9.15 m (30.0 ft). [1] [9]
The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 290 kg (639 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 160 kg (353 lb) for pilot, passenger and baggage. The aircraft includes a ballistic parachute. [1] [9]
The 2X has a service ceiling of 2,000 m (6,562 ft) and a hover ceiling of 1,650 m (5,413 ft). It produces an overflight noise level of 65 dB(A) at 75 m (246 ft) distance. [9]
The aircraft's price has not been announced. [9]
The design first flew uncrewed and indoors in an arena in Karlsruhe, Germany, on 17 November 2013. The flight proved the design to have very low vibration levels. [11] [12]
The prototype was shown at AERO Friedrichshafen in April 2015. [13]
The VC200 version was first flown outdoors, uncrewed and tethered, in November 2015. It was remotely controlled by CEO and company co-founder Alexander Zosel. [14]
The first crewed flight was in April 2016, flown by Alexander Zosel. He reported, "the flight was totally awesome. The machine was absolutely reliable, there were no vibrations, it was tremendous. The Volocopter immediately converted every movement I made with the joystick." [15]
Testing of the aircraft and software continued in 2016, establishing flight limits for the software. [16]
The design was employed in Dubai in 2017, conducting uncrewed tests of a proposed air taxi service. Officials in Dubai were drafting the air taxi standards and specifications for operations in Dubai. [17] [18]
A short uncrewed indoor demonstration flight was conducted at the US Consumer Electronics Show in January 2018. [10]
Data from the manufacturer [9]
General characteristics
Performance
An electric aircraft is an aircraft powered by electricity. Electric aircraft are seen as a way to reduce the environmental effects of aviation, providing zero emissions and quieter flights. Electricity may be supplied by a variety of methods, the most common being batteries. Most have electric motors driving propellers or turbines.
The Diamond DA50 is a five seat, single-engine, composite aircraft designed and built by Diamond Aircraft Industries. First shown in 2006, it made its maiden flight on 4 April 2007. The project has been proposed to be powered by several different engines, but was certified on 9 September 2020 with the Continental CD-300 diesel.
The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable airplane under development by Terrafugia since 2006.
The Tecnam P2012 Traveller is an eleven-seat utility aircraft designed and manufactured by the Italian company Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam, based in Capua, Italy, near Naples.
The Pipistrel Panthera is a lightweight, all-composite, highly efficient four-seat aircraft under development by Pipistrel of Slovenia.
The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer is a Slovenian two-seat, single-engine light-sport aircraft intended specifically for flight training, designed and produced by Pipistrel in Gorizia, Italy.
The Diamond DA62 is a five- to seven-seat, twin-engine light aircraft produced by Diamond Aircraft Industries and first announced in March 2012.
Atol is a two-seat kit amphibious aircraft with a wood composite structure. It was to be built in ultralight and light-sport aircraft (LSA) versions. Atol aircraft were produced by the Finnish company Atol Avion.
The Volocopter VC2 is a German single-place experimental electric multirotor personal air vehicle that was built by Volocopter GmbH of Bruchsal, Germany.
The Pipistrel WATTsUP is an electric aircraft proof-of-concept trainer design that was built in Slovenia by Pipistrel.
The Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2 is a light electric aircraft designed and under development by Bye Aerospace of Denver, Colorado.
The Diamond DART is a series of tandem, two-seat civilian and military turboprop trainers manufactured by Austrian Diamond Aircraft, "DART" meaning Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer.
The NASA X-57 Maxwell was an experimental aircraft being developed by NASA, intended to demonstrate technology to reduce fuel use, emissions, and noise. The first flight of the X-57 was scheduled to take place in 2023, but the program was cancelled due to problems with the propulsion system.
The Eviation Alice is an electric aircraft designed to accommodate nine passengers and two crew members. Currently under development, its construction incorporates 95% composite material, is powered by two electric motors, and has a T-tail. The prototype first flew on 27 September 2022.
The Bye Aerospace eFlyer4, originally named the Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer 4, is an American electric aircraft under development by Bye Aerospace of Denver, Colorado. The design was announced at the 2017 AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The aircraft will be type certified and supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
Volocopter GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal and founded by Alexander Zosel and Stephan Wolf. The company specializes in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of personal air vehicles, designed for air taxi use. The CEO is Dirk Hoke and chairman Stefan Klocke.
The Opener BlackFly is an American electric-powered VTOL personal air vehicle designed by Canadian engineer Marcus Leng. It was publicly revealed in 2018, after nine years of development. The aircraft is intended to be supplied complete and ready-to-fly and Opener are in the process of starting production at their Palo Alto, California site.
The VoltAero Cassio is a family of hybrid electric aircraft being developed by startup company VoltAero. The company plans to produce three configurations of the Cassio aircraft: the four-place Cassio 330, the six-place Cassio 480, and the ten-place Cassio 600.
An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. This technology came about thanks to major advances in electric propulsion and the emerging need for new aerial vehicles for urban air mobility that can enable greener and quieter flights. Electric and hybrid propulsion systems (EHPS) have also the potential of lowering the operating costs of aircraft.
The VoloRegion is an electrically powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL). It is being developed by the German company Volocopter.