Astro Aerospace Ltd, a developer of eVTOL aerial vehicles and drones, and
Horizon Aircraft which it recently acquired (
reported in Machinery Market), a developer of advanced hybrid electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, have announced the completion of their 1:6 scale eVTOL prototype testing programme, culminating in hundreds of test flights over multiple aircraft.
The companies are now shifting their focus to production of a 1:2 scale prototype that is already under development and are targeting the first quarter of 2022 to begin test flying. This milestone is a precursor to the launch of the next phase of scale prototype production, with Astro on schedule to complete its first full-sized aircraft by the beginning of 2024.
The primary objective for the 1:2 scale eVTOL prototype’s test flights will be to verify aerodynamics, control systems and transitional flight. Key among those systems is the Cavorite X5’s patented wing system that allows it to fly a portion of its route like a normal aircraft.
This innovative vertical wing system rotates to reveal a series of ducted fans that allow the aircraft to take off and land vertically — the wings close upon minimum forward speed, maximising the aircraft’s aerodynamic efficiency, safety, and operational flexibility.
The full-scale Cavorite X5, which is expected to travel up to 450km/h with a 500km range, is designed for reduced hydrocarbon emissions, poor weather, traffic avoidance, and operational flexibility.
The aircraft targets the urban air mobility (UAM) sector in addition to the long range, regional air mobility (RAM) sector which is currently under-served by eVTOL competitors and one in which Astro expects the first revenue generating operations to derive from.
Additionally, with eVTOL capability combined with high forward speed, the Cavorite X5 will be ideally suited for medical evacuations, disaster relief, cargo delivery, and other special missions.
Astro’s existing Alta and Elroy programmes, combined with Horizon’s newly added Cavorite X5 is expected to better position the company to pursue its commercialisation approach through a horizontally integrated product offering that span from short-range pure-electric UAM to longer range hybrid electric RAM missions.