It’s Electri-Flying
The surreal electric helicopter that recently won the Lindbergh Prize for Innovation at this year’s AeroFriedrichshafen has moved the proof of concept design up a few notches. The German ‘e-volo Volocopter VC1’ operates with multiple rotors and sketches have now emerged of two variants, one a single-seater and the other with room for one more ‘inside’. The company has already shown that the aircraft can be controlled by joystick via a fly-by-wire system although the manual controls are very unconventional, albeit easier to operate. Rather than using ailerons, elevators and rudders to create drag, thereby altering the flight path, the Volocopter uses differential power to achieve the same result. The electric propulsion units significantly cut noise generation and the amount of power needed. Flight time is stated as 20 minutes, given the current state of battery technology, which will improve over time although a hybrid version using a combustion motor could recharge the batteries during flight. Company CEO, Erik Lindbergh. Has high hopes for the innovative machine: “We believe that the development of the Volocopter holds significant promise to radically change short distance transportation. It has a long development path ahead, but if this innovative design reaches the commercial market it will dramatically change the way we move about the planet.”

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