teTra Aviation Mk-7 (prototype)

(Photo credit: Aero-News Network)

teTra Mk-3 (prototype)
teTra Aviation Corporation
Haramachi-ku Minamisoma City, Fukushima, Japan
www.tetra-aviation.com

On January 16, 2018, GFPUT (a temporary name) was launched to study a one passenger electric vertical and takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft and is in the business of manufacturing passenger eVTOL aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). In June 2018, teTra Aviation Corporation was established by Yui Nakai, President, and a doctoral student at the University of Tokyo. The company started with ¥1 million yen and went on to raise ¥50 million yen to continue their work. teTra Aviation was one of the Phase 1 winners from the GoFly competition, sponsored by Boeing (USA), and won the $100,000 Disruptor Award offered by airplane and helicopter engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney.

Some teTra Aviation Company history

• January 2018: Launched a study for a single passenger eVTOL aircraft in Japan
• March 2018: Named the company teTra
• June 2018: teTra Aviation Corp. is established in Japan
• February 2020: teTra Aviation won "Pratt and Whitney Disruptor Prize" in GoFly Prize competition (USA)
• July 2021: teTra Aviation reveals the Mk-5, a one passenger eVTOL aircraft at EAA Airventure, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
• August 2021: Successful uncrewed flight of Mk-5 at Byron Airport, Byron, California, USA
• July 2024: teTra Aviation reveals the Mk-7, a two passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft at EAA Airventure, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA

Mk-7 passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
The Mk-7 is a two passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft and is the forerunner for the Mk-7 production model. The pilot and passenger sits side-by-side in the cockpit. As of the summer of 2024, the prototype was still in the early stages of development. The Mk-7 initial drawings have the look that is similar to small two-seater general aviation airplane including one high main wing and fixed tricycle landing gear which means it will be easier for government authorities to approve a flight certificate for the aircraft.

The estimated cruise speed of the eVTOL is 250 km/h (155 mph) and has an expected range of 110 m (177 km). The aircraft has one high main wing with four booms that hold 10 VTOL-only propellers, there is one pusher propeller for forward flight, has 11 electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The fuselage in all probability be made from carbon fiber composite and some aircraft aluminum for a high strength to low weight ratio. The planned wingspan is 8 meters (26.3 feet) and the length of the aircraft is projected to be 10 meters (32.8 feet). The aircraft has a tail boom, two downward vertical stabilizers and fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

The safety features of the aircraft include distributed electric propulsion (DEP) which uses multiple propellers each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. 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 few moving surfaces and no tilting wings when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity. If the VTOL propellers fail, the aircraft can land conventionally on an airport runway or on a roadway.

teTra Aviation's CEO Tasuku Nakai, stated during an interview at EAA Airventure held in July 2024 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA that “We’re focusing on a Japanese market which has very concentrated and dense populations. And, also, there’s lots of mountains and oceans, lots of terrain out there which prevents the use of the ground network.” Nakai indicated that Japan has a large amount of people over 70 who don't drive cars and he feels this aircraft will help people who can't drive, will help them travel each year.

Future
The company anticipates to start flight testing the aircraft in 2025.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Cruise speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Range:  110 m (177 km)
• Propellers: 11 propellers (10 VTOL-only propellers, 1 rear pusher propeller)
• Electric motors: 11 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage material: Carbon fiber composite and aircraft aluminum
• Wingspan: 8 m (26.3 ft)
• Length: 10 m (32.8 ft)
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: 1 main high wing with 4 booms for the VTOL propellers.
• Tail: 1 boom tail with 2 downward vertical stabilizers
• 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 or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. 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 few moving surfaces and no tilting wings when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity. If the VTOL propellers fail, the aircraft can land conventionally at an airport runway or on a roadway.

Related aircraft:

• teTra Aviation Mk-3 (prototype)
• teTra Aviation Mk-5 (production model)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• MarketWatch
• Tracxn

Resources:

• teTra Aviation Co., Ltd. website
• teTra Aviation Co., Ltd. Facebook
• teTra Aviation Co., Ltd. Twitter
• teTra Aviation Co., Ltd. YouTube Channel
• teTra Aviation Co., Ltd. LinkedIn
• Article: $1 Million GoFly prize remains unclaimed, Japan's Tetra earns $100K disruptor award, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Magazine, Mar. 3, 2020
• Article: New model of flying car unveiled for the first time Robotes move-in "Tetra Aviation" in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, PR Times, July 7, 2021
• Article: Minamisoma City and Tetra Aviation collaborate on "flying car" demonstration, Fukushima News, July 8, 2021
• Article: Tetra Aviation unveils new model exhibited at Oshkosh in Minamisoma City, Drone (Japan), July 8, 2021
• Video: Open air eVTOL demonstration from teTra aviation / Flying car Mk-5 flight test Tetra Aviation, teTra Aviation, Oct 6, 2021
• Article: First test flight of teTra’s single-seat Mk-5 eVTOL aircraft, Inceptive Mind, Oct. 8, 2021
• Article: Japanese-Made Mk-5 eVTOL Nails Its Test Flight in California, Pre-Orders Are Now Open, Auto Evolution, Oct. 8, 2021
• Video: Aero-TV: teTra Aviation Introduces New Mk-7 eVTOL, Aero-News Network, Nov. 17, 2024
• Article: Aero-TV: teTra Aviation Introduces New Mk-7 eVTOL, Aero News Network, Nov. 18, 2024