With Uber backing several potential urban flyers, other investors are moving to invest in longer-range craft with smaller, but more exclusive markets.
Zunum and JetSuite Sign a Sweet Deal
With funding from Boeing’s Horizon X and Jet Blue Technology Ventures, and Washington State’s Clean Energy Fund, Zunum Aero’s initial batch of hybrid electric aircraft will fly in the livery of JetSuite, a private aviation company that’s a partner of JetBlue Airways.
JetSuite’s current offerings include aircraft, “Ranging from the four-passenger Embraer Phenom 100s to the large-cabin, 13-passenger Legacy 650 to our JetSuiteX edition, 30-seat Embraer 135s, the JetSuite fleet offers our clients a variety of options for their aviation needs.”
https://vimeo.com/270392646
Members and customers can find scheduled flights within JetSuiteX’s California and Arizona operating range. Prices are similar to business class accommodations on Southwest or Alaska airlines. It will be interesting to see if lower operating costs for Zunum’s regional hybrids pencil out in customer’s favor. For example, Zunum says, ”A Seattle-to-Whistler flight could cost $79 and take only an hour and a half in door-to-door travel time. For comparison, the one-train-per-day Amtrak train voyage would cost just over $90 and take nine hours, 15 minutes(!).
Seattle-to-Portland could take a couple of hours door-to-door, based on the use of regional airports.” Looking up drive times for similar road trips means at least a four-hour run to Whistler and a three-hour drive to Portland, not counting frequent traffic jams and impediments like bridge closings or border crossings.
The joint press release shows a market ready for exploitation. “Zunum aircraft are well-positioned to refresh the roughly $1 trillion stock of aircraft currently serving regional routes. Notably, Zunum has disclosed that its range-optimized aircraft features a maximum cruise speed of 340 mph, and with a low runway requirement of 2,200 feet for takeoff.”
Zunum’s hybrid-electric technology could provide low operating costs. Basic design allows use of smaller regional airports
JetSuite seems to be serious about adding these craft to its fleet, announcing plans to buy 100 of Zunum’s planes. Given JetSuite’s business model of providing exclusive transportation to a nation-wide network of airports for its members, private charters can transport executives and their staffs.
The two companies explain the utility and public acceptance possible for their new electric vehicles. “The Zunum Aero aircraft are optimized for distances up to 1,000 miles, where efficient travel options are limited, with low numbers of regional flights, high costs and cumbersome door-to-door travel times, making it a perfect fit for the short-haul private and semi-private travel offered by both JetSuite and JetSuiteX. By reducing noise and emissions by 80 percent, these aircraft are positioned to fly near residential communities, accessing over 5,000 underutilized airports in the U.S., reducing door-to-door travel times and costs.”
Logan Jones, managing director at Boeing HorizonX, is optimistic. “In short order, Zunum and JetSuite will prove out a model that is incredibly innovative.”
XTI TriFan 600 Finds Favor
Perhaps even more exclusive, but offering even greater flexibility and similar economy of operation, XTI’s TriFan 600 can dispense with the ride to the airport. Thomas Walker, Business Development and Sales Consultant for XTI Aircraft, recently gave your editor a brochure extolling the virtues of this hybrid electric VTOL business aircraft. The 3,500 pound empty weight, single-pilot, five passenger machine can fly from existing helipads, or at a heavier gross weight, from conventional runways.
Planned future development for XTI’s TriFan
The $6.5 million machine, with a relatively low claimed operating cost of $350 per hour, can save its owners $1 million per year if the owner flies the TriFan 1,000 hours, according to the company. One hour could take the passengers 340 miles at an operating cost per passenger of $70.
XTI compares these costs to those for other VTOL aircraft with comparable range – 660 miles with an 1,800-pound payload and cruising at 270 knots (310 mph). Using its conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) capabilities, the airplane is projected to carry a payload of 2,800 pounds 1,200 miles. The craft can reach its maximum cruise altitude of 29,000 feet in only 11 minutes.
Robert LaBelle, XTI’s CEO, explains the capabilities of this unique aircraft.
A product of eXtended Technology and Innovation (hence the company’s name) the TriFan has three ducted fans powered by two 260 kilowatt motors each. These are motivated by a single 750-kilowatt (1,000 horsepower) turbine driving three generators. XTI is looking at engines such as the Honeywell HTS900.
Reported in AIN online, Chief Engineer George Bye explains the control and power systems that will make the TriFan a safe business machine. Besides “’a triple-redundant fly-by-wire system with a very high refresh rate to accommodate gust loading, …The electric propulsion system in the ducted fans will allow for very rapid adjustments to gusts in the critical phase of flight as you are lifting up and away.’
“The turboshaft engines will be connected to three generators powering six electric motors, two for each of the Trifan’s three ducted fans. Takeoff power will come from onboard battery packs. Bye said the batteries can handle the task as the takeoff phase is brief before the two wing-mounted ducted fans rotate forward to cruise flight position and turboshaft power takes over for cruise flight.
“Batteries would be supplemented by solar cells in the wings. In the event of main engine failure, the electric motors can be reengaged to provide limited duration power for landing and the Trifan will also be equipped with a whole aircraft ballistic parachute system.”
Potential customers for the XTI TriFan 600 are probably otherwise successful
XTI reports sales of 60 TriFans, with a significant number sold at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show last November.
With low operating costs, charter services may consider TriFan’s as next-level commuters, hauling more passengers over longer distances than they urban equivalents. Quiet operation and redundant safety protocols will make these more than acceptable transportation devices in a range of urban environments.