Pipistrel Vertical Solutions eVTOL (concept design)

eVTOL (concept design)
Pipistrel Vertical Solutions
Ajdovščina, Slovenia
www.pipistrel-aircraft.com

Founded in 1989, Pipistrel is a light aircraft manufacture based in Slovenia. Pipistrel originally began manufacturing powered hang gliders which were discontinued in the early 2000s. In 2007, Pipistrel introduced the world's first 100% electric powered two seat glider; the first of their gliders to achieve production. In 2015, Pipistrel developed the Alapha Electro, an all-electric plane or electric Conventional Take-Off and Landing (eCTOL) aircraft for training with a one hour flight duration with an energy reserve. As of June 2023, the company is currently manufacturing and selling CTOL, eCTOL, electric self-launching glider and hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. In April 2022, Textron purchased Pipistrel for about $235 million (USD).

Pipistrel publicly announced at the first Uber Elevate Summit in April 2017 (Dallas, Texas, USA), that they were working on an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) but revealed no information. At the second Uber Elevate Summit on May 8, 2018 (Los Angeles, California, USA), the company revealed they were working on several different versions of its eVTOL concept design aircraft: "The new aircraft utilizes dedicated propulsion systems for both cruising and vertical lift and embraces an aircraft family approach of eVTOL able to carry from two to six passengers." The company has started a new subsidiary, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, for its eVTOL development efforts.

Pipistrel Vertical Solutions passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft specifications
Pipistrel Vertical Solutions passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft was designed to hold between two to six passengers, piloting was unknown. The aircraft is scalable. The aircraft was predicted to have an estimated cruise speed of 241 km/h (150 mph) and a range of 96 km (60 miles). While the number of propulsion propellers or electric ducted fans was never revealed by the company, the company did state the the aircraft was designed to have dedicated VTOL and forward flight propulsion, so that nothing tilts on the aircraft during flight.

The aircraft has one main Delta wing with winglets and some call this type a wing a Batwing. The tail of the aircraft has one vertical stabilizer. It is presumed the aircraft has retractable wheeled landing gear. The aircraft was designed to reduced the complexity of the aircraft to increase safety, reduce manufacturing costs, increase the efficiency of the aircraft and to reduce maintenance costs.

Pipistrel won the NASA Green Flight Challenges three times and was the first company to have an electric airplane (eCTOL), the Alpha Electro, approved by the aviation safety regulators in Australia, Canada and the US (FAA), in April 2018. Pipistrel is also developing the Cargo Drone after shifting resources from their 801 UAM VTOL.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger concept design scalable aircraft
• Piloting: Unknown
• Capacity: 2 to 6 passengers
• Cruise speed: 241 km/h (150 mph)
• Range: 96 km (60 miles)
• Propellers: Unknown but the aircraft was designed to have dedicated VTOL and forward flight propulsion, nothing tilts on the aircraft
• Electric motors: Unknown
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Window: Canopy over cockpit
• Wings: Delta wing with winglets (or also called a Batwing)
• Tail: 1 vertical stabilizer
• Landing gear: Retractable wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related aircraft:

• Bell Autonomous Pod Transport (APT)
• Bell Nexus 4EX (concept design)
• Bell Nexus 6HX (concept design)
• Pipistrel Vertical Solutions 801 (concept design)
• Pipistrel Vertical Solutions Nuuva V300
• Textron eAviation Nexus (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• MarketWatch
• Pitchbook
• Tracxn
• Wikipedia

Resources:

• Pipistrel website
• Pipistrel Facebook
• Pipistrel Twitter
• Pipistrel YouTube Channel
• Pipistrel Instagram
• Video: Jeff Holden announces Pipistrel, Uber Elevate Summit, Apr. 2017
• Video: Pipistrel General Manager Ivo Boscarol, Uber Elevate Summit, Apr. 2017
• Video: Dr. Tine Tomažič, Director of R&D Institute at Pipistrel, Uber Elevate Summit, Apr. 2017
• Article: Uber Partners with Pipistrel Aircraft to Manufacture Electric VTOLs, Electric VTOL News, Apr. 25, 2017
• Article: Pipistrel reveals new eVTOL concept, Vertical Magazine, May 8, 2018
• Article: Pipistrel reveals new eVTOL concept, Electric VTOL News, May 24, 2018
• Article: Three New eVTOLS Unveiled at Uber Elevate, Aviation International News Online, May 9, 2018
• Article: Uber Unveils Its Flying Car Prototype, Engineering.com, May 22, 2018
• Article: Pipistrel eVTOL News, Electric VTOL News, Feb. 23, 2019
• Article: Pipistrel shifts attention from eVTOL air taxi to low-cost cargo drone, Vertical Magazine, Nov. 26, 2019
• Article: Pipistrel remains committed to Uber Elevate, but will ‘reduce intensity’ of air taxi development, Vertical Magazine, May 15, 2020
• Article: Pipistrel Committed to Uber Despite Shifting Priorities, Electric VTOL News, June 12, 2020
• Article: Textron to Acquire Electric Aircraft Pioneer Pipistrel, Business Wire, Mar. 17, 2022
• Article: Textron Completes Acquisition of Pipistrel, Textron, Apr. 18, 2022
• Article: Textron Completes $235 Million Purchase of Pipistrel, Flying Magazine, Apr. 19, 2022