On what in the future will fly the Jews!
Israeli company "Urban Aeronautics" could become a start to win the race, for the market of commercial flying cars. The company announced the launch of a full-scale deployment of its aircraft with VTOL. With the help of two start-ups, wholly owned by subsidiaries, the company plans to launch the service by 2022. Urban Aeronautics managed to keep its projects secret, using its subsidiaries to develop and test prototypes. CityHawkis a plane developed by Urban Aeronautics, intended for public transport. The device can accommodate up to six passengers and reaches a top speed of 170 miles per hour. Two turbo engines drive the rotors, which are located in front and behind the aircraft. At the moment, the engines are equipped with electric generators. When starting, the use of a hydrogen engine is considered to improve performance. To ensure the safety of the device is equipped with a ballistic parachute , which can be deployed during emergencies.
According to the developer, the cabin can be designed according to the needs of the customer. This transport can be equipped with communication equipment, a conference booth, with fewer seats, while passenger flights can include benches and large monitors.
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Today's innovation must foresee tomorrow's technology to optimize its potential. Urban Aeronautics is testing a similar unit under the guise of tactical robotics (a subsidiary of the start-up). Flying unmanned vehicle "Cormorant" , also has a configuration with two rotors. To date, the developers have completed more than 250 test flights with the aircraft.
Under the brand Metro Skyways, another subdivision of Urban Aeronautics, a version of the aircraft with a large size is being developed. Called the Falcon XP, the device can accommodate 14 passengers in its spacious cabin.
Technology and performance of fuel cells
While most aircraft startups tend to use battery-powered engines and even traditional engines (for recreational models), Urban Aeronautics is not interested in such solutions. Instead, the company will use hydrogen fuel cells to power its aircraft. After careful consideration, the business believes that its chosen option is more stable and capable of supporting the requirements for the power of aircraft. At the moment, hybrid devices are not equipped with equipment for fuel cell operation. Urban Aeronautics will switch to hydrogen fuel after manned flights, scheduled for 2021-2022. "Unlike batteries, H2 fuel cells do not have a limited life cycle and generate zero toxic waste.
Rules for the certification of aircraft are the main obstacle for start-ups in the nascent sector. CityHawk is classified as a twin-engine helicopter and must adhere to certain FAA rules for proper certification. When it comes to performance, configurations with two rotors contribute to stability and speed during operation. The additional rotor allows the device to carry more weight, which is applicable to facilitate comfortable travel and lifting of heavy loads.
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