United Aircraft Corp S-76 Atlas Transport (technology demonstrator)

(Photo credit: Sukhoi Design Bureau)

S-76 Atlas Transport (technology demonstrator)
Sukhoi Design Bureau
United Aircraft Corporation
Moscow, Russia
www.uacrussia.ru

Founded in 1939 by Pavel Sukhoi as JSC Sukhoi Company in Moscow, Russia, the company was in the business of designing and manufacturing both civilian and military aircraft. During February 2006, the Russian government merged Sukhoi with Mikoyan, Ilyushin, Irkut, Tupolev, Yakovlev and more, as a new company named United Aircraft Corporation. The Sukhoi Design Bureau has developed a heavy-lift air cargo hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). This has been made possible through Russia's Vector program.

Potential customers, Russia's postal service, oil and gas companies and more have told the company they really need an airport independent air cargo aircraft that is lower in cost than using a helicopter. The Sukhoi Design Bureau has stated there are 28,000 settlements in Russia that depend on Russian Helicopters Mi-8 helicopter service because many remote areas are difficult to reach by land throughout most of the year. Drone service payloads can cost 30-40% less than helicopter service and is why the company's drone is expected to be in big demand.

Its ability to operate in remote and inaccessible areas without requiring specialized infrastructure makes it a valuable asset for various industries, including logistics, research, and government operations.

S-76 Atlas Transport heavy-lift air cargo eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft
The S-76 (C-76: Russian) Atlas Transport is a heavy-lift air cargo eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft. The aircraft is remote controlled piloted and has no test pilots onboard and does not have a cargo hold. The aircraft was made to help the inventors to flight test the aircraft, its components and collect flight test data with the ultimate goal of moving the aircraft forward for to eventually become a production aircraft. At this stage, with technology demonstrators, company's are usually starting to develop a plan for how a manufacturing plant is set up to produce the aircraft.

The aircraft has eight propellers, has eight electric motors and is powered by batteries. It is possible that electricity for the propellers also came from extension chords attached to the aircraft. The fuselage is open framed allowing for quick assembly and easy reconfiguration during the testing process. The aircraft has two cross beams which are perpendicular to the fixed skid landing gear and has four booms where the propellers are mounted. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear.

The above picture shows that the company has successfully flight tested the technology demonstrator. The company reported that many tests were performed including takeoff, hovering and landing the aircraft. It can be noted that the components used for aircraft will be able to perform well in harsh environments, including the extreme cold.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Air cargo eVTOL technology demonstrator
• Piloting: Remote control
• Capacity: No pilot or cargo area
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Propellers: 8 propellers
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries (and possible an external power source)
• Fuselage: Open framed fuselage with cross beams perpendicular to the fixed skid landing gear with four booms that the propellers are mounted on
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Related Aircraft:

• United Aircraft Corp Sukhoi S-76 Atlas Transport (prototype)

Company Insights:

• Airframer, Sukhoi Design Bureau JSC
• Crunchbase, United Aircraft Corporation
• Pitchbook, United Aircraft Corporation
• Tracxn, United Aircraft Corporation
• Wikipedia, Sukhoi
• Wikipedia, United Aircraft Corporation

Resources:

• United Aircraft Corporation website
• United Aircraft Corporation Telegram Channel
• United Aircraft Corporation Facebook
• United Aircraft Corporation Twitter (Russian)
• United Aircraft Corporation Twitter (English)
• United Aircraft Corporation YouTube Channel
• United Aircraft Corporation Instagram
• United Aircraft Corporation LinkedIn
• Video: Sukhoi and UAC presented a heavy UAV of vertical take-off and landing drone, RuAviation, Aug. 12, 2024
• Article: Sukhoi and UAC presented a heavy UAV of vertical take-off and landing, RuAviation, Aug. 12, 2024
• Article: Sukhoi Unveils Modified S-71 Attack UAV Concepts, Aviation Week, Aug. 12, 2024
• Video: UAC S-76 - Russian New VTOL Cargo Drone at ARMY 2024, Altitude Addicts, Aug. 12, 2024
• Article: S-76 unmanned transport aviation system of off-airfield basing, RuAviation, Aug. 13, 2024