Air Vehicles for the Low Speed Air Economy
A Dual‑Mode e‑STOL & VTOL Aircraft with Solar‑Assisted Electric Propulsion
The single propeller pure electric propulsion system is combined to a revolutionary e-fuel based distributed propulsion system that makes vertical take-off both efficient and safe without adding stress to the battery. This e-fuel system is based on a compact, cost-effective automotive turbine-alternative units operating at low noise and an efficiency > 40%.
Dual‑Mode e‑STOL / VTOL Operation
The IFEVS aircraft gives pilots instant flexibility through two flight modes:
- e‑STOL Mode (default) — pure‑electric short take‑off in under 15 m.
- VTOL Mode (on demand) — vertical take‑off and landing for confined or hard‑to‑reach locations. Mode switch completes in under 2 s via a pilot‑friendly interface.
Electric cruise delivers best efficiency between 90 km/h and 110 km/h; maximum speed is limited to 150 km/h, with controllable flight down to 50 km/h.
Solar‑Powered Flight
A 10 m² array of 25 %‑efficient solar cells seamlessly integrated into the disc wing:
- Harvests up to 40 km of free range per day.
- Extends endurance and lessens dependence on ground charging.
- Provides an emergency back‑up power source.
Cell efficiency is projected to reach 30 % by 2030, further boosting solar contribution.
Key Specifications
- Dimensions (L × span)450 cm × 375 cm
- MTOW300 kg (1‑seat) / 450 kg (2‑seat) / 600 kg (two seats and cargo)
- Cruise Speed80–110 km/h
- Max / Min Speed150 km/h / 50 km/h
- Range (pure electric, 1‑seat)Up to 150 km at 100 km/h
- Modular Battery Capacity30 kWh pack (single seat)
- e‑Fuel Tank15 L (all versions)
- Take‑off Distance (e‑STOL)< 15 m
- e‑STOL ↔ VTOL switch< 2 s