AltoVolo Sigma (concept design)

(Image credit: AltoVolo)

Sigma (concept design)
AltoVolo
Battersea, London, United Kingdom
www.altovolo.com

Founded in 2024, AltoVolo is located in Battersea, London, United Kingdom and is in the business of designing and manufacturing passenger all-battery and hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company's nickname for the aircraft is a vertical hybrid jet. The aircraft has been designed for regional air mobility and urban air mobility.

Sigma autonomous passenger all battery or hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
The Sigma is an autonomous three passenger all-battery or hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft made for both urban and regional air mobility. The aircraft has a canopy over cockpit, providing excellent views for all passengers. The aircraft will allow people and their luggage to fly to long distances without the need of a pilot. Autonomous flight systems are being provided by Embention, the Spanish firm which supply certified flight controllers to Amazon Prime Air.

The cruise speed of the aircraft using a hybrid-electric power source is estimated to be 354 km/h (220 mph). The range of the aircraft using a hybrid-electric power source is expected to be 821 km (510 m). The range of the aircraft using an all electric power source is anticipated to be 418 km (260 m). The maximum altitude of the aircraft is calculated at 3,050 m (10,000 ft). The hover time of the aircraft is forecasted to be 15 minutes.

The aircraft has four tilt electric-ducted fans, has four electric motors and can be powered by a hybrid-electric power source or can be powered by batteries. The aircraft has tandem wings. The proposed horsepower of the aircraft is 1,608 hp. The noise level at takeoff is projected to be 65-70 dBA at 100 meters (328 ft). The length of the aircraft has been designed to be 4,050 mm (13 ft, 3.75 in), with a width of 4,800 mm (15 ft, 9 in.) and will have a height of 1,580 mm (5 ft, 3 in). The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

The company has reported that subscale prototype flight testing has been completed. Starting in May 2025, a full scale technology demonstrator has begun development. The company has stated their aircraft will be 80% quieter than a helicopter. The aircraft has been designed to land on driveways, rooftops, helipads, parking lots and yachts. If one electric-ducted fan fails, the remaining ones can still ensure stable flight and land safely. The aircraft has a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute that can be deployed as low as 50 feet successfully, for an emergency landing.

It is important to remember that all concept design aircraft specifications are estimated and can or will change as prototypes and production models are made, tested and flown with real world avionics, components and payloads.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger hybrid-electric eVTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: Autonomous piloting
• Capacity: 3 passengers an their luggage
• Cruise speed (hybrid-electric): 354 km/h (220 mph)
• Range (all electric): 418 km (260 m)
• Range (hybrid-electric): 821 km (510 m)
• Hover time: 15 minutes
• Maximum altitude: 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
• Empty weight: 710 kg (1,565 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 270 kg (595 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 980 kg (2,161 lb)
• Propellers: 4 tilt electric-ducted fans
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Hybrid-electric power source, with 1,608 hp
• Noise level at takeoff: 65-70 dBA @ 100 meters (328 ft)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Length: 4,050 mm (13 ft, 3.75 in)
• Width: 4,800 mm (15 ft, 9 in.)
• Height: 1,580 mm (5 ft, 3 in)
• Packed width: 2,280 mm (7 ft, 5.83 in)
• Window: Canopy over cockpit, providing excellent views for all passengers
• Wings: Tandem wings
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one ducted fan fails, the remaining ones can still ensure stable flight and land safely. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Company Insights:

• Airframer

Resources:

• AltoVolo website
• AltoVolo Instagram
• AltoVolo LinkedIn
• Article: 1,600-hp three-seat eVTOL promises jet-setters 500 miles at 220 mph, New Atlas, May 4, 2025
• Article: AltoVolo launches personal hybrid eVTOL aircraft, Vertical Magazine, May 5, 2025
• Article: AltoVolo launches three-passenger Sigma eVTOL with 510-mile range, Electric Cars Report, Mar. 5, 2025
• Article: AltoVolo enters global Advanced Air Mobility market to launch its three-passenger Sigma aircraft, with 500-mile range, eVTOL Insights, May 6, 2025