Lilium vertical take off "jet"

[Ascend Charlie]

I once landed an R-22 in my backyard during training, so I think a Lilli would fit.

Times change, I have landed LongRangers and Squirrels in (big) backyards to pick up rich dudes, but that was in the 90s in Sydney. Don't think we would get away with it these days. And when operating police choppers in the 80s we could plop onto any sports field if the requirement was there, with an agreement from all the local councils.

Statements that CA$A is onside and "working" on a solution for Lili Pads across Melbourne make me laugh, CA$A is hard pressed enough to cope with the normal regulatory processes without spending time on the CGI daydreams.

[Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by Ascend Charlie

Statements that CA$A is onside and "working" on a solution for Lili Pads across Melbourne make me laugh, CA$A is hard pressed enough to cope with the normal regulatory processes without spending time on the CGI daydreams.

Bwahahhahahahhahaah CA$A couldn't arrange a bunk-up in a brothel with $100 hanging out of each ear. They still haven't fixed the fur lined ocean going balls up that was the part 61 implementation from Sept 2014!

[mickjoebill]

Oct 2021 test flight of the gen 5 vehicle.
Looks like a calm day.
Still no transition from high speed flight to a hover. The transition in this flight, from 40kph to hover is smooth.

You Tube

Mjb

[Ascend Charlie]

There seems to be a new boy on the block:

nceptivemind.com/cityhawk-worlds-first-wingless-compact-evtol-aircraft-moves-step-closer-reality/21212/?fbclid=IwAR3RLz4TKohuIfLPxyMsBPsRVUWEDIBvJ-cRRX_J9SQr2lr8L95qkFAd694"Urban Aeronautics, the Israel-based aerospace company behind the world’s first compact, wingless electric vertical takeoff, and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, is getting closer to turning its groundbreaking concept into reality. The company said it has raised the first $10 million of a $100 million funding round this week towards CityHawk from private investors in the US, Brazil, and Israel.

According to the company, the car-sized, six-seater CityHawk has more in common with birds than with nearly every other eVTOL prototype in existence. With a distinct, wingless exterior and patented fully-enclosed Fancraft rotor system, the CityHawk is mainly designed for commercial air charters and emergency medical services (EMS). It will be fueled by hydrogen, the most sustainable technology in development today. This means it must be able to conduct multiple trips within a city per day with zero emissions and minimal noise.

An innovative Fancraft technology is based on dual enclosed, ducted rotors with a variable pitch for thrust control, which enable uncompromised stability even in strong winds and turbulence during takeoff, hovering, and landing. The enclosed structure also results in minimal noise, both inside the cabin and outside.


The compact eVTOL also incorporates autonomous systems able to detect and avoid oncoming traffic, power lines, and other structures along the route. Besides, the multi-spectral see-through weather detection and anti-icing capabilities enable the VTOL to fly safely at night, in inclement weather, and in degraded visibility conditions.

In addition, the compact design makes it possible to land CityHawk at your block’s rooftop vertiport to save an hour by flying over traffic, especially in case of emergencies. Inside, the CityHawk has all the perks of a luxury car with comfortable seats, Wi-Fi, and touchscreens, plus a view of your city from above.

The company recently announced the partnership with California-based Hypoint to adapt hydrogen-fuel-cell technology for aviation. The redesigned hydrogen-powered version of its CityHawk eVTOL aircraft replaces its current Safran Arriel turboshaft engine with a propulsion system based on HyPoint’s cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cells."

Geez, on a 30-minute flight with amazing views, the milennials still want wifi. And of course, your block has a roof-top heliport, doesn't everybody's?

[Less Hair]

Will the noise and the blast when hovering make it acceptable for inner city and metro area flight operations?

[Winemaker]

It will be fueled by hydrogen, the most sustainable technology in development today.

Oh come on. Run some basic numbers re fuel energy density of hydrogen vs liquid hydrocarbons like petrol then do some basic calculations re volumes and storage (liquid hydrogen and/or compressed gas) and then look at the weight of the tankage..... etc. etc. Lets not even get into the weight, efficiency, and output of fuel cells; a battery system would be necessary for surge energy demands like take off, adding weight....

I have run these numbers many times and there is no way an aircraft is going to fly for any reasonable period of time using hydrogen as a fuel, especially a vertical machine; factor in endurance then just laugh. It just doesn't work, both from a weight and a volumetric perspective; let's not even talk about how hydrogen is produced, sources (probably a steam process on natural gas), energy requirements for chilling and liquefying the gas (pressure tanks would be WAY too heavy for aircraft), and the infrastructure to supply the fuel...... More grabbing headlines and money here, IMHO; buy stock early and then bail when the time is right..... The only hydrogen craft I see flying passengers are balloons, blimps, or dirigibles.

[muermel]

Originally Posted by Less Hair

Will the noise and the blast when hovering make it acceptable for inner city and metro area flight operations?

Neighbours and local residents of hospitals in Germany are going to court against EMS helipads beccause of noise already nowadays. What makes people think that helipads for THESE things will be allowed in cities? There's a reason there's no helipads in larger cities except hospital pads. Not going to happen

[Ascend Charlie]

And here's the latest wet dream from the "gimme some development money" crowd:



Not a lot of lifting surface for forward flight, and the wing has big holes in it with drag-inducing fan stuff.

The noise from those 2 piddly propellors (nose, tail) must be a real scream.

[Less Hair]

I am impressed by all the money they collected but does this new design mean their own original tilt-impeller concept finally did not convince them?
Now it looks more like a toy. Love those tiny front and tail propellers.

[Winemaker]

Originally Posted by Less Hair

I am impressed by all the money they collected but does this new design mean their own original tilt-impeller concept finally did not convince them?
Now it looks more like a toy. Love those tiny front and tail propellers.

Pretty funny. But you have to understand they are turning a 50,000 rpm ± so the craft is supersonic....... I wish I could come up with one of these schemes for instant wealth.

[Less Hair]

All the laurels for Bezos and Musk who fund their own visions. But should the more general financial community get a better technical education to prevent them from all this fantasy financing? How bad will risk capital investments be in other less visible areas, say bio, AI and quantum computing, if even this vapourware gets funded with hundreds of millions of dollars?
We might need stricter rules to prevent money getting extracted from funds on -hopefully not- intentional fake promises.

[netstruggler]

Originally Posted by Less Hair

I am impressed by all the money they collected but does this new design mean their own original tilt-impeller concept finally did not convince them?
Now it looks more like a toy. Love those tiny front and tail propellers.

The photo posted by Charlie is not anything to do with Lilium.

Let me provide the missing source:

Ascendance revises the design for its long-range hybrid eVTOL (newatlas.com)

[Less Hair]

Thanks for the clarification, a bit confusing to distinguish all those phantasies.

[Ascend Charlie]

Oh geez, another one:

Sydney Seaplanes orders fleet of electric air taxis to provide escape from Sydney traffic

They have ordered the Embraer EVE toy.

Sydney Seaplanes has the advantage of Grandfather Rights on the Rose Bay flying boat base, and they do trips to Palm Beach and other places in Pittwater.

Back in the 90s we proposed a floating heliport to use this pre-approved water runway, the pontoons would have been designed for the task, but the EPA and Sydney MSB pounced on it for noise considerations. No landing was allowed within 1000m of the shore, which meant that there was a lot of moving the pontoons between flights, or using water taxis, both impractical. And the rabid Labor voters of Balmain stopped anything west of the bridge.

Be interesting to see how they plan on landing at Barangaroo, on the west side of the bridge and almost requiring an approach/departure under the bridge.

[cattletruck]

The comments section in this link makes for interesting reading.

Monte-Copter Model 15 Triphibian helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

Even though the design still looks quite futuristic 60 years on I doubt the early investors will ever see their money back.

[mickjoebill]

Lilium employs Andy Strachan as test pilot

The money keeps flowing for development.
The move to Spain to allow higher speed testing. Former RAF and Leonardo helicopters pilot Andrew Strachan steps up as test pilot.

https://lilium.com/newsroom-detail/l...ndrew-Strachan

Mjb

[Winemaker]

Originally Posted by mickjoebill

The money keeps flowing for development.
The move to Spain to allow higher speed testing. Former RAF and Leonardo helicopters pilot Andrew Strachan steps up as test pilot.

https://lilium.com/newsroom-detail/l...ndrew-Strachan

Mjb

Looks like they are only flying RC models; that company website is absolutely devoid of actual hard information.

[widgeon]

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...-lilium-evtols
Hmm I wonder if Net Jets actually put any money down , if so they are either longsighted visionaries are complete idiots ,
Please send your vote on a 20$ bill to . Makemerich@[email protected]

[Winemaker]

Ilium says they will be all set, certified, and flying in 2024..... From their website:

Lilium is aiming to certify its eVTOL and start commercial services in 2024.

From FAA.gov

......the certification of a new aircraft type can take between 5 and 9 years.

[Pilot DAR]

......the certification of a new aircraft type can take between 5 and 9 years.

Which might not include the time to establish a changed certification basis and special conditions, which could be necessary if the conventional power off landing requirements cannot be demonstrated. This type of aircraft will succeed, but acceptance for commercial fare paying transport will be a little further off, while operating standards are adjusted to accommodate a changed certification basis.