Oliver Garrow has been working with a convertiplane design concept since 2007, and has flown over 100 “sorties” with large scale models to test the concept and demonstrate flight characteristics. Reported here in 2010, the aircraft initially looked a bit like an annular-wing configuration with pivoting engines or electric motors for lift and propulsion. Now, in its most current version, it looks a bit more like a box wing design with pivoting propulsion. Oliver’s company has changed its name from Verticopter to Elytair. As explained in company literature, “Elytair, named with the goal to offer Elite personnel Air transportation solutions, will be offered as a design platform through selective licensing agreements, for either manned or unmanned applications.” As with the Verticopter, the Elytair can land and take off in every conceivable mode; conventional take-offs and landings (CTOL), vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and short take-offs and vertical landings (STOVL). As with helicopters, Elytair can hover, but because it can pivot …
The Verticopter® , an Adaptable and Expandable Convertiplane
Oliver Garrow, founder, designer, and President of Garrow Aircraft LLC, says it right up front, “My design is completely counterintuitive.” Pilots are used to counterintuitive thinking. Push the nose down and add power when you’ve stalled and are heading groundward anyway, for instance. But the logic of what Garrow is doing becomes apparent only when you see the Verticopter® flying. Adaptable for varying flight characteristics, the Verticopter can be powered by one or more motors. A single motor, for instance, would provide a simple solution for a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft. A short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) airplane might use two or more motors. Full vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) would require four to six motors. Motors can be pivoted on all models, providing vectored thrust that makes the most of the airplane’s unique configuration. Garrow sees electric power as ideal for this application, and the use of one or multiple motors simplifies the problem of vectoring the …