Flynow started in Austria and is now headquartered in Saudi Arabia. Several years in development, the small, coaxial helicopter has an ambitious planned future
Flynow eCopter’s two counter-rotating rotors atop a short pod allow small dimensions and negate the need for a conventional tail rotor. Simplification extends to eliminating complex cyclic controls and relying on fixed-pitch propellers counteracting each other’s torque to help maintain direction and yaw stability.
One Platform for Many Missions
Flynow explains the simple design can be adapted to many uses. “The eCopter family is built around a shared technical platform. The core architecture stays the same while the fuselage and mission equipment adapt to each use case.”
To enable certification for autonomous transport of humans, Flynow projects one million kilometers of cargo flights before entrusting it with its first human passenger. our editor is not aware if similar constraints were applied to eHang’s tourist flights in China.
In any case, the simple design has a low disc loading of 52 kilograms per square meter (10.65 pounds per square foot), roughly equivalent to the wing loading of a slightly over max Cessna 150. Flynow claims this is the lightest disc loading of any operational eVTOL. Low disc loading contributes to low noise, with the firm claiming a noise level of 55 dBa at 150 meters (492 feet), equal to “a household dishwasher.”
eCopter has 4× redundant critical systems:flight control, power, communications and sensors are all quadruple redundant. Four motors with controllers drive each rotor. Autopilot control on designated routes could manage a majority of missions, but even greater observation and control may be necessary.
Cargo flights could carry up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds), making it adaptable to many applications.
It could carry bulk loads in, “Fast, efficient last-mile logistics,” such as urban deliveries or rapid response to local emergencies. In responding to urban or rural fitrs, eCopter could carry enough water or fire suppressant to quench the fire or contain it until ground-based forces could arrive.
Load carrying ability could expedite patient transport to hospitals
As an air taxi in single or two seat form, eCopter could provide short hops over traffic jams, even sight-seeing flights
To help integrate all this and enable safe operations in an increasingly complex aerial world, founder and designer Jurgen Greil moved Flynow’s global headquarters to Riyadh following the acquisition of a majority stake in FlyNow Aviation GmbH by FlyNow Arabia Limited. Yvonne Winter now heads that organization
Advanced automation with multiple layers of redundancy ensure safe operations in all conditions. Even with an autopilot on board and predefined routes, Flynow relies on human-in-command supervision with real-time monitoring and intervention.
Overseeing that is a group called Salaam (SKY ALLIANCE FOR AUTOMATED AIR MOBILITY), “An integrated Air Transport System, Safe, Efficient, growth-capable: enabling [a] Profitable and Sustainable Low Altitude Economy.” Yvonne Winter heads this organization. You can find their Vision, Mission, and Strategy statements on their web site, which makes for interesting reading.
The overarching philosophy guiding the development of this simple machine may lead to the goals we all seek for future flight, clean, affordable transport in the safest manner possible.