ARC Aerosystems Linx P9

Linx P9
ARC Aerosystems
Cranfield, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
www.arcaerosystems.com

Founded in 2017, ARC Aerosystems (formerly Samad Aerospace) is a technology start-up company set out to design and manufacture safe, eco-friendly, scalable, luxury electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) and for air cargo. Since its founding, the company has generated over 10,000 pages of technical reports as a result of more than 100,000 engineering work hours. The company is based in the United Kingdom and is financed by venture capital and is looking for additional funding. (All images: ARC Aerosystems)

The company has designed multiple models of eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft to help shape the future with eco-friendly door-to-door urban air transportation. The ultimate goal of the aircraft is to give back time to the air traveler compared to lengthy time it takes today to fly with conventional air travel.

As of 2023, ARC Aerosystems has acquired the following patent and design rights:

• Utility: Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) propulsion system on blended wing body (BWB) passenger aircraft (European Patent Corporation Treaty)
• Design: Vehicle configuration of two-in-one air-and-ground vehicle unit (United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office)
• Utility: Power management (battery packs) on two-in-one air-and-ground vehicle unit (United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office)

The Linx P9 is a hybrid-electric (turbo-electric or hydrogen fuel cells) VTOL passenger and/or cargo winged compound powered-gyrocopter. The aircraft has one or two pilots and can carry a maximum of nine passengers. The Linx P9's main rotorblade is pitch controllable that uses an electric motor to turn the rotorblades fast enough for vertical takeoffs and landings. For comparison, a true gyrocopter has an unpowered main rotorblade. Once in flight, two pusher propellers located on the inner area of the wings provide propulsion for forward flight and the main rotorblades slows down which reduces drag. Over 90% of the lift is provided by the wings during forward flight. Due to the main rotorblade turning at a slow rate during forward flight, there is no need for a tail rotor for the aircraft.

The aircraft has a minimum cruise speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), has a typical cruise speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and has a maximum speed of 370 km/h (230 mph). The range of the aircraft can vary based on payload weight and has a range of 950-1,300 km (590-808 miles). The empty weight of the compound rotorcraft is 4,255 lb (1,930 kg) and has a maximum operating altitude of 3,962 m (12,999 feet). The Linx P9 can be powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel or hydrogen.

The cabin of the aircraft can be reconfigured based on the mission of the owner of the helicopter. The aircraft can be outfitted for passenger flights, passenger and cargo flights, medevac missions and for air cargo only. The rotorcraft has an unpressurized cabin.

The company points out the aircraft is 40% more cost effective than a helicopter, has a 30% increase range compared to a helicopter, is faster than a helicopter and is a low carbon form of air travel. The company expects to begin serial production in 2028.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric VTOL passenger winged compound powered gyrocopter
• Piloting: 1 or 2 pilots
• Capacity: 9 passengers
• Minimum cruise speed: 70 km/h (43 mph)
• Cruise speed: 300 km/h (186 mph)
• Maximum cruise speed: 370 km/h (230 mph)
• Maximum Range: 950-1,300 km (590-808 miles)
• Maximum operating altitude: 3,962 m (12,999 feet)
• Empty weight: 4,255 lb (1,930 kg)
• Rotorblades: 1 main three bladed rotorblade (powered by an electric motor on takeoff and when landing)
• Propellers: 2 pusher propellers (the turbo-props are located on the wings and powered by engines)
• Electric motors: 1 electric motor
• Power source: Hybrid-electric power source (turbo-electric or hydrogen-electric)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Helicopter type windows
• Wings: 1 main high-wing with winglets
• Tail: Helicopter tail with 1 fixed horizontal stabilizer and 2 vertical stabilizers (no tail rotor)
• Landing gear: Retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• ARC Aerosystems C-150 (production model)
• ARC Aerosystems C-600 (production model)
• ARC Aerosystems e-Starling Jet (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems HUMA (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems Linx P3
• ARC Aerosystems Q-Starling (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems Starling Cargo (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems Starling Cargo S5M (demonstrator)
• ARC Aerosystems Starling Jet (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems UAV Starling (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook
• Tracxn

Resources:

• ARC Aerosystems website
• ARC Aerosystems Facebook
• ARC Aerosystems Twitter
• ARC Aerosystems YouTube Channel
• ARC Aerosystems Instagram
• ARC Aerosystems LinkedIn
• Article: eVTOL innovator launches sustainable passenger aircraft, ARC Aerosystems, Jan. 20, 2023
• Article: UK Startup Unveils Regional Gyroplane Plans, Aviation Week, Jan. 20, 2023
• Article: Arc announces hybrid slowed-rotor aircraft with 800-mile range, New Atlas, Jan. 23, 2023
• Article: This New Chopper-Like VTOL Is 40% Less Expensive to Fly Than a Conventional Helicopter, ARC Aerosystems, Jan. 24, 2023