Aerospace

PS

The power of decay

Launched on September 5, 1977, NASA’s space probe Voyager 1 is now the most distant human-made object in existence (writes Peter Donaldson). At the time of writing, the spacecraft had made it more than

Web exclusive

Airbus combines electric aircraft designs for air mobility initiative

Airbus is combining its two short-range electric aircraft designs – the rotor-based Vahana and the fixed-wing CityAirbus NextGen concept – for a collaboration in Germany (writes Nick Flaherty). “The first is for a long hover times, for example for rescue operations, while the Vahana is for longer flights, for example from Nuremberg to Munich,” says […]

Web exclusive

Meeting the challenges of developing e-VTOL air taxis

AutoFlight’s Prosperity I, a Chinese-designed e-VTOL air taxi sized to accommodate a pilot and three passengers, is intended to meet the rigorous safety standards that apply to transport-category aircraft including the largest airliners, and the company is aiming for certification and service entry in 2025 (writes Peter Donaldson). Invited by electric aviation pioneer and AutoFlight’s […]

In Conversation

David Hudson

Talking the talk The head of EV strategy at ePropelled tells Rory Jackson how he came into the role and shares details of the company’s dynamic torque switching technology Predicting growth or decline across different areas of the e-mobility world is challenging at the best of times. These days it is even more complex, with […]

Web exclusive

Ground vibration testing of NASA’s X-57 Maxwell electric aircraft

Electric propulsion is spawning aircraft with diverse and novel configurations. The multiple motors, rotors, propellers and fans associated with distributed electric propulsion are shaping many complex and unusual forms in the quest to enhance lift and thrust, and to reduce drag through close aerodynamic coupling with airframes. One of the most important processes in their development is ensuring that they don’t suffer from damaging vibration. To that end, NASA has used equipment from Hottinger Bruel & Kjær (HBK) to collect and process accelerometer data in ground vibration testing (GVT) for its X-57 Maxwell aircraft.

Web exclusive

ABB plans fast-charger network for electric aircraft

As with cars and trucks, electric aircraft need access to an extensive network of reliable fast chargers, and in October it was announced that ABB is to develop a megawatt fast-charging infrastructure for Lilium’s short-haul electric jet

Web exclusive

DSD software optimises e-aircraft powertrain designs

In early August, electrified propulsion engineering consultancy Drive System Design (DSD) revealed that it is working on optimising the propulsion systems for electric aircraft as part of the Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) challenge at UK Research and Innovation. The initial study is intended to evaluate powertrain technology that could be used on a range […]

New Products

Hyundai and ANRA Technologies launch partnership to develop advanced air traffic operating environment

The Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group has announced a new partnership with ANRA Technologies, a leading provider of end-to-end UAV and traffic management solutions, to begin developing an operating environment for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. This is the first in a series of air traffic management partnerships Hyundai plans to […]

New Products

Eviation unveils its production all-electric Alice aircraft as it prepares for inaugural flight

Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, has unveiled the design for its Alice all-electric aircraft, which is on track for first flight later this year. The production configuration defines Alice’s path to certification, and entry into service is expected in 2024. The Alice can carry nine passengers and two crew members. It is […]

PS

Superconducting aircraft motors

Power density and power-toweight ratio have always been very near the top of the list of essential attributes for aircraft propulsion systems, particularly in those elements that work at the sharp end of converting stored chemical energy into thrust (writes Peter Donaldson). Rockets aside, the gas turbine engine has yet to be beaten in this respect. In the electrified...