The Villiger Traveler is a Swiss aircraft that looks remarkably like the SmartFlyer SF-1 featured in our last posting. Despite the similar styling, the Traveler has a unique history of its own, and a few stable mates that reflect its careful engineering.
The Traveler 230
First introduced in 2017, the Traveler was derived from the TR230, a Cessna-like craft designed with assistance from Calin Cologan and others. The conventional aircraft, based on other works from this group, was probably Swiss precise in its manufacture.
The original Traveler TR230 was Cessna-like
But a different approach and less conventional look were on their way.
Same Name, Different Approach
Possibly taking the same approach as that taken by the SmartFlyer group, the Villiger team designed a similar appearing airplane, but with two initial variants that gave them some flexibility in choosing components.
Carrying on e-Genius’ Platform
By 2019, the Villiger craft was probably set in plastic, so to speak. Such designs have to be “dialed in” early, and because of the difficulty of changing molds do not change at a designer’s whims. To some extent, this may limit late-breaking creative impulses if the initial design is not thought through.
In proper Swiss setting Villiger Traveler displays clean lines, efficient configuration
The design features a hybrid drive system in the nose, which provides electrical power through a generator to turn the electric motor on the vertical tail. Originally the TR230 was designed around a UQM 220 motor, similar to the unit that powered Chip Yates’ record-setting motorcycle and Long-Eze. A later version in 2019 had an EVO motor. The current real-world prototype sports an Emrax 348. The motors weighs a mere 43.9 kilograms (96.8 pounds) at most and produces 340 kilowatts (455 horsepower) peak and 140 kW (188 hp.) continuously.
A Dutch web site showed the interesting air-stair type doors on the Traveler when it was shown at Grenchen in 2021. The writer counted the Villiger Traveler as the “Star of the Show”, noting it was being developed by Urs Villiger with MSW Aviation. The publication explained the aircraft was being offered in three variants, one more than at its introduction a few years earlier.
“This is a design that is being developed in three variants. First, a variant with only an electric motor, based on modern battery technology that can deliver 80 kWh. With that, the plane should be able to fly for 60 minutes with 20 minutes of required reserve.
Villiger Traveler at 2021Granchen fly-in
“Variant two is the hybrid version. Here the Traveler must be able to fly for 300 minutes, of which 35 minutes 100% electric with a 40 kWh battery pack. A combustion engine functions as a range extender. This generates power for the batteries of the electric motor.
“Variant two is the hybrid version. Here the Traveler must be able to fly for 300 minutes, of which 35 minutes 100% electric with a 40 kWh battery pack. A combustion engine functions as a range extender. This generates power for the batteries of the electric motor.” While using different components from the SmartFlyer, the Traveler achieves much the same performance overall.
Why the Similarity?
Some may question why the Villiger Traveler looks so much like the SmartFlyer SF-1. Designs that have similar missions produce similar configurations. For years in my youth I thought the Russians were copying our aircraft. Later, I softened that view, realizing the Russians had benefited from bringing WWII German engineers on board just as America had. We both got swept wings and supersonic flight in the bargain, and advanced aerodynamics.
We’re told that great minds think along similar lines, and that may be true. But sit skilled engineers down with a mission statement and a pad of paper, and several of different backgrounds will sketch similar designs. It takes a Burt Rutan Calin Gologan to come up with one that has a unique look or approach.
Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann helped define the ultra-efficient design of e-Genius and inspired some elements of the SmartFlyer and Traveler. A 2016 design contest elicited a low-wing creation applying some of the same elements.
Similar in performance to a conventional four-seat light aircraft, ECO4 was a good deal more efficient.
According to the entry, “Considering its 45-kilowatt (60 horsepower) Diesel-powered generator, predicted performance is remarkably similar to that of a 180-horsepower Cessna Skyhawk. A Cessna 172M at 75-percent power, cruising at 8,000 feet, will burn through its 38 gallons of useable fuel in 4.7 hours, according to the Cessna 172 Guide. That’s a fuel burn of 8 U. S. gallons per hour. The ECO4 would perform much the same on 40 percent of the fuel energy requirement.
This overall configuration seems to represent a great energy saving, necessary for craft trying to achieve high efficiency. Such designs fall into the virtuous cycle, being less expensive to build, own, and operate. The configuration for the SmartFlyer and the Villiger Traveler seem to be a good combination for efficiency and performance.