Volocopter has made the first flight of its fixed-winged four-seat passenger aircraft, the VoloConnect.
The VoloConnect offers more range and faster journeys than any other Volocopter aircraft to date, with a range of over 60 miles and flight speeds above 155mph. The extended range and higher payload will bring business travellers and commuters beyond the city centre into downtown areas.
Volocopter is targeting a 2026 entry into service for the VoloConnect, while the VoloCity is targeting commercial launch in 2024.
Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter, said, “Having a whole family of electric aircraft in the test flight phase is a pioneering feat.
“Our technology platform is the foundation for our family of aircraft approach and has proven to deliver results at an astounding speed. Volocopter is bringing these innovative designs off the ground, into the air, and then to cities worldwide!”
Sebastian Mores, Volocopter Chief Engineer for the VoloConnect, added, “This is an extraordinary moment for us – seeing the VoloConnect soar to the sky marks the achievement of one of our key milestones and demonstrates just what we are capable of in a short time and in line with the company’s overall strategy for crewed and uncrewed aircraft. Furthermore, new technologies will be tested that will gradually be implemented during the overall program development.”
Volocopter designed the VoloConnect and its other eVTOL aircraft to meet the safety standards of EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). The prototype completed its first flight in May 2022 after just 17 months in the making and performed a few maneuvers for 2 minutes and 14 seconds during its first flight. The prototype has all the planned aerodynamics and performance features of the future commercial product.
The VoloConnect is a lift-and-cruise aircraft optimised for missions beyond the urban and suburban space. Keeping moving parts to a minimum, its six rotors facilitate vertical takeoff, while two electric fans in combination with uplift-creating wings ensure high forward speeds.
The VoloConnect prototype is currently being put through a demanding series of flight tests to verify that the aircraft and its systems are in line with the performance limits and prepared for the subsequent development steps.
This phase encompasses a raft of different tests, including standardised low-speed, transition, high-speed, and engine failure testing for automated and later autonomous flights – all standard-issue tests for an eVTOL passenger aircraft manufacturer.
Within the first three test flights of this campaign, the team was able to verify a significant portion of the eVTOL’s envelope with forward speeds up to 40 mph and 28 mph sideward flight speeds during tests. The test flight envelope will be gradually opened as part of the test flight campaign over the coming weeks.
