aeroG Aviation UV-4 (defunct)

(Image credit: aeroG Aviation)

UV-4 (defunct)
aeroG Aviation LLC
Woodland Park, New Jersey, USA
www.aerogaviation.com

Founded in August 2016 by Robert Gomez, aeroG Aviation LLC designs and develops passenger and air-cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility. Based in Palm Bay, Florida, the company is currently focused on the AG-8 powered-lift eVTOL, in the engineering specification phase under FAA AC 21.17-4 (Type Certification — Powered-Lift). aeroG Aviation is seeking strategic partners and is open to acquisition discussions.

Before the company was founded, the team's first simulation project was the UV-4 UAV, an uncrewed air cargo eVTOL aircraft developed at Bergen Community College in 2015 by the company founder. The project was funded by the college’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant. The project was first released on Microsoft Flight Simulation X and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D v3 in January 2017. The research developed by this group formed the basis for aeroG Aviation LLC.

aeroG Aviation develops its aircraft through simulation science and theoretical proofs before committing to physical build. The company holds a signed MOU with the Advanced Air Mobility Institute supporting certification roadmap alignment and outreach, and is bringing the AG-8 to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 with Wolfhound Studios.

UV-4 uncrewed air cargo eVTOL concept design aircraft (defunct)
The UV-4 is an uncrewed air cargo eVTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft will have autopilot, remote piloting or autonomous piloting. The air cargo is loaded and off loaded using a rear aircraft ramp. As this aircraft is made for air cargo only, there are no windows. The aircraft has been made for aerodynamic efficiency. 

The estimated cruise speed of the aircraft is 322 mph (519 km/h) and has an approximate maximum speed of 345 mph (556 km/h). The aircraft has four tilting electric ducted fans (EDFs), eight electric motors and is powered by battery packs. While in flight, the aircraft has been designed to use only the two forward EDFs to reduce power consumption and noise from the aircraft. The body of the aircraft has been designed to be a lifting body, increasing the range and efficiency of the aircraft.

The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has retractable wheeled landing gear. The aircraft has a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

In 2018, aeroG Aviation completed the design and specifications for its manned passenger aircraft and the UV-4 is released for Lockheed-Martin Prepar3D v4 introducing structural improvements and autopilot features. In 2019, the company filed for an aeronautical patent to protect their unique design and method of propulsion.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Uncrewed air cargo eVTOL concept design aircraft (defunct)
• Pilots: Autopilot, remote or autonomous
• Capacity: Air cargo up to 2,000 lb (907 kg)
• Cruise speed: 322 mph (519 km/h)
• Empty weight: 10,320 lb (4,681 kg)
• Payload weight: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
• Propellers: 4 electric ducted fans (EDFs)
• Propellers: 5 blade composite with variable pitch (constant speed) propeller
• Size of Rear Props: 4.27 ft. (1.3 m)
• Size of Front Props: 3.58 ft. (1.09 m)
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors. Each motor is a 3 phase AC induction motor rated at 1600 hp (1200 Kw).
• Horse power: 6,400 hp
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Length: 41.12 ft (12.53 m)
• Height: 17.55 ft (5.35 m)
• Wingspan: 48.55 ft (14.8 m)
• Wing type: Canard wings with 1 small front wing and 1 large rear high wing
• Tail assembly: 1 twin tail
• Landing gear: Wheeled tricycle retractable landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Related Aircraft:

• aeroG Aviation aG-4 Liberty (defunct)
• aeroG Aviation AG-8 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Airframer
• Bizapedia
• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• aeroG Aviation website
• aeroG Aviation Facebook
• aeroG Aviation YouTube
• aeroG Aviation Instagram
• Video: AeroG aG-4 (date unknown)
• Case study: UV-4 V/STOL UAV, Prepared3D graphics, Prepared3D, 2016
• Article: Students Sold on STEM Study, The Paramus Post, Apr. 27, 2016
• Article: Drones Research Taking Off At Paramus College, Daily Voice, May 26, 2016
• Article: Bergen Community College students to show off drone concept, North Jersey, Oct. 20, 2016
• Video: AeroG & Thranda UV-4 V/STOL UAV for X-plane 11 & 10, Thomas Rasmussen, Jan. 18, 2017
• Article: Aircraft Review : AeroG UV-4 UAV by Thranda, X-Plane Reviews, Jan. 23, 2017
• Article: AeroG UV-4 V/STOL UAV Aircraft Released For FSX & P3D, Fly Away Simulation, Mar. 14, 2017
• Podcast: Joseph Mattern aeroG Aviation - Electric Aircraft Designs, Electric Vehicle Podcast, Jan. 17, 2020