SkyDrive makes first public manned flight

SkyDrive

SkyDrive makes first public manned flight

SkyDrive Inc. had its first public demonstration of its SD-03 flying car in Japan at the 2.5 acre Toyota Test Field, home to the company’s development base.

Designed to be the world’s smallest electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the single-seat SD-03 took off and circled the field for about four minutes. A pilot was at the controls, but a computer-assisted control system ensured flight stability and safety while technical staff at the field monitored aircraft performance.

The eight-motor aircraft requires only as much space on the ground as two parked cars.

SkyDrive plans to continue flight testing to achieve full compliance with the safety provisions of the Civil Aeronautics Act. https://en.skydrive2020.com

Jaunt Air Mobility

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded Jaunt Air Mobility a contract to study noise sources from its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft design.

Jaunt will team with Penn State University (PSU) and Continuum Dynamics Inc. (CDI) to employ advanced acoustical analysis to characterize noise from the Jaunt Journey compound gyrodyne eVTOL aircraft.

“The purpose is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the noise sources in our aircraft configurations and the unique noise reduction opportunities,” says Jaunt CEO Martin Peryea.

Rotorcraft noise expert Dr. Kenneth Brentner will lead the PSU team, assisted by Dan Wachspress, chief developer of CDI’s analysis software. https://www.afrl.af.mil; https://jauntairmobility.com

MarketsandMarkets research forecasts urban air mobility will grow from $2.6 billion in 2020 to $9.1 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5%.

Increasing deployment of eVTOL aircraft for intracity travel will drive demand for infrastructure such as vertiports, charging stations, air traffic management, and maintenance facilities. Vertiports are expected to account for the largest market share in 2025.

Researchers expect autonomous vehicles to grow faster than piloted vehicles from 2025 to 2030. Avionics systems for unmanned vehicles are predicted to lead from 2025 to 2030, growing faster than aerostructures, electrical and propulsion systems, cabin interiors, and software, due to their development for fully autonomous flight. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com