Airflow, a recent entry into the electric conventional short takeoff and landing (eCSTOL) market, is pushing forward into fielding a full-scale demonstrator. They are also testing the limits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in nailing their landings. Airflow’s mission is spelled out in big ideas and bold fonts. “Freight without the wait. The first electric Short Take Off and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft for middle-mile logistics. 1 pilot, 500 lbs of cargo, 0 lbs of CO2.” Airflow’s concept illustrations show a twin-boom pusher with 10 distributed electric motors along the wing’s leading edge. Trying out their ideas for extremely short takeoffs and landings will fall to a modified Cessna 210. In the meantime, the team is advancing its concept at this time with a model Cessna 150 and showing some success at nailing their landings. Airflow calls its pilot assistance program, “Virtual Tailhook,” and it seems to serve that purpose in making landings possible in a tight space. Videos show the progress …
