Airbility AB-2 (concept design)

(Image credit: Airbility)

AB-2 (concept design)
Airbility
Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
www.airbility.co.kr

Airbility was founded in November 2023 in the Republic of Korea to provide innovative passenger hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and small drones for advanced air mobility (AAM). The name of the company is short for the words air, mobility and ability. The goal of the company is to use current modern technologies for safe and quiet VTOL aircraft for medium and long distance travel.

Airbility AB-2 passenger hybrid-electric heVTOL concept design aircraft
The Airbility AB-2 is a two passenger hybrid-electric heVTOL concept design aircraft made for advanced air mobility. The aircraft will carry one pilot, one passenger and their luggage in a spacious cabin with excellent visibility for everyone on board. The aircraft has a modern sleek design and contemporary interior.

The estimated maximum cruise speed for the aircraft is 400 km/h (249 mph) and has an expected range of 400 km (249 m). The aircraft has eight tilting electric ducted fans (EDFs), eight motors and is powered by a hybrid-electric power source. The aircraft has one high main wing (10 meters wide or 32 feet, 9-5/8 inches) with winglets, has a one V-tail and has one low rear set of stub wings with downward winglets. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite material to provide a high strength to low weight ratio. The landing gear is a fixed tricycle strut landing gear.

The empty weight of the aircraft is calculated to be 979 kg (2,159 lb), with a maximum payload weight of 200 kg (441 lb) and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,179 kg (2,600 lb). Safety features include distributed electric propulsion (DEP) that means if one or two electric ducted fans or electric motors fail, the aircraft can still land safely using the other working electric ducted fans. 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.

Airbility AB-0 hybrid-electric eVTOL concept design drone
The company has also created the AB-0 hybrid-electric eVTOL concept design small drone that can perform a variety of functions. The drone can be used for surveillance such as security service, wildfire use and marine monitoring. In addition, the drone can used as an anti-drone aircraft. Small missiles can be attached under the wings and can attack and take down a small drone. Or the AB-0 drone can capture small drones.

For air cargo service, the small drone has a maximum payload weight of 10 kg (22 lb). The maximum cruise speed of the drone is 200 km/h (124 mph) and has a range of 100 km (62 m). The winspan for the drone is three meters (9 feet, 10-1/8 inches).

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger hybrid-electric heVTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Maximum cruise speed: 400 km/h (249 mph)
• Range: 400 km (249 m)
• Empty weight: 979 kg (2,159 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 200 kg (441 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 1,179 kg (2,600 lb)
• Propellers: 8 electric ducted fans (EDFs)
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Hybrid-electric power source
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left, right and top visibility for spectacular views
• Wings: 1 main high wing with winglets, 10 meters wide (32 feet, 9-5/8 inches), 1 rear low swept stub wing with downward winglets
• Tail: 1 V-tail
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle strut landing gear (1 strut at the front of the aircraft, 2 downward winglets form the landing gear from the lower rear stub wings)
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for passengers or cargo. 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.

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook

Resources:

• Airbility website
• Airbility YouTube Channel
• Airbility Instagram
• Airbility LinkedIn
• Video: AIRBILITY AB-RC test video, Airbility, July 8, 2024