Electric propulsion has been in the boxes of the aeronautical giants for some time. However, a new propulsion system, whose trials have begun, could become a crucial element towards the generalization of electric aviation. Overair, the company behind the electric vertical take-off and landing craft “Butterfly”, is confident that its life-size propulsion system, which has been tested in excellent videos, will be a game-changer for the next aviation industry iteration.
“Achieving our full-scale propulsion test goals is an exciting milestone for the Butterfly program,” said Jim Orbon, Butterfly Program Manager at Overair. “Not only does this allow us to validate our design choices and correlate our simulation results to real-world data, but it also proves the technical capabilities of the team and their ability to execute our development plans. But this step is a means to an end. Next step is full-scale prototype, with long-lead parts currently in progress. »
Companies interested in electric propulsion for aviation have been busy lately. Last year, we wrote about California-based Archer, which plans to build the world’s first all-electric airline, with vertical take-off and landing vehicles to move people in cities around the world. Archer and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) subsequently entered into a supply chain agreement to allow Archer to benefit from access to FCA’s low-cost supply logistics, as well as its expertise in of advanced composite materials and its engineering experience.
Cascading innovations
Meanwhile, MagniX, which is developing technology to transform traditional aircraft into electric vehicles, has begun consolidating its operations into a new 3,800 square meter building to facilitate its all-electric aviation mission for aircraft carrying up to to 40 passengers. MagniX will start by equipping small turbine-powered aircraft with its electric motors, including for existing regional air service providers.
Overair’s vectored thrust design takes into account some of the main obstacles encountered by EVTOLs in populated areas, including noise. The design is aerodynamically efficient and, according to Overair, it is a fundamentally different vehicle from other EVTOLs thanks to its very large propellers and the efficiency of its wings for long-range cruise flight. Due to their size, Butterfly’s propellers can spin slower during different phases of operation (hover, transition, cruise), making them quieter and allowing them to draw less power from the batteries.
The challenge of electric aviation is the weight/power ratio and battery management. With substantial power and control margins, Overair is betting that its large propellers will deliver unparalleled efficiency – an incredibly important attribute for urban flight in varied environments. Overair is aiming for first prototype flight by 2023 and, pending FAA certification of Butterfly, has set a goal of entering commercial service in 2026.
Source: ZDNet.com