4 October 2017
The maiden flight of the four-seat all-electric passenger-carrying CityAirbus could be as soon as next year, Airbus announced at Helitech International, being staged this week at London ExCel.
The company recently completed full-scale ground tests of the propulsion system – ducted propellers driven by 100Kw Siemens electric motors.
The CityAirbus will be able to takeoff and land vertically, with the electric motors and ducted propellers making it super-quiet.
“We now have a better understanding of the performance of CityAirbus’ innovative electric propulsion system, which we will continue to mature through rigorous testing while beginning the assembly of the full-scale CityAirbus flight demonstrator,” said Marius Bebesel, CityAirbus chief engineer.
The full-scale demonstrator will be tested on ground initially. In the first half of 2018 the development team expects to reach the ‘power on”’ milestone, meaning that all motors and electric systems will be switched on for the first time. The first flight is scheduled for the end of 2018.
To start with, the test aircraft will be remotely piloted. Later, a test pilot will be on board.
CityAirbus will be designed to carry up to four passengers on fixed routes with a cruising speed of 120 km/h. It will be initially operated by a pilot to ease certification and public acceptance, paving the way to future fully-autonomous operations.
3 comments
Many many thanks for that information on CityAirbus, which I would very much like to incorporate into my ‘soon to be published’ book on an Aviation related subject. This would be good publicity for your company and the development of this future craft. I have already published my article on the AIRBUS All electric aircraft that crossed the English Channel from LYDD to CALAIS in memory of Louis Bleriot (The first- though – from France to England).
Yours Aye, Liveryman Dr. JOHN McADAM, PhD, MA, BA(Hons), FRGS.
Dr. JOHN McADAM has already left his comment/response in the previous ‘comment’ block. Dr. JOHN McA.
Hi there FLYER:
Many thanks for this article on CITY AIRBUS and I would like your permission to use this part for my research and include it in my book on an AVIATION related subject. It will add to my piece I have already written on the AIR BUS – LYDD to CALAIS flight to celebrate the BLERIOT 1st flight across the channel
Cape GrisNais to Dover. Any additional ‘Battery Driven’ flights will be warmly welcomed by ME. Credit will be given. My thanks in anticipation
Yours Aye, Liveryman Dr. JOHN McADAM, PhD, FRGS, et al.