Bellwether Industries Antelope

Antelope
Bellwether Industries
London, England, United Kingdom
www.bellwether-industries.com

Founded in January 2019, Bellwether Industries is based out of London, England with the mission to provide electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft (formerly called urban air mobility) for use in cities worldwide. Bellwether now has offices across the United Kingdom, Taiwan, China and UAE. The company's website states their founding members initial interest and beginning into the eVTOL industry was in 2014 when they started building their first hovercraft called the Gazelle. The company has stated they've raised $1million USD in 2021 and are still looking for investors to raise funds to make a full scale prototype.

The company is focusing on making eVTOL aircraft, the system allowing the aircraft to fly safely in an urban environment and provide the necessary infrastructure for aircraft to take off and land from.

The Antelope is a one passenger futuristic-stylized eVTOL aircraft with four ducted fans, four electric motors and a battery back for its power source. The aircraft has a canopy, like a jet fighter has, so the passengers have a clear field of vision in any direction. The Antelope might be their full scale prototype model.

It is unknown how many passengers the aircraft holds. The pictures here show that the aircraft holds possibly one passenger. A few news articles state their full scale prototype aircraft will hold two passengers and their full scale production aircraft will hold between four to five passengers. The aircraft lands on the bottom portion of its fuselage reducing complexity and the weight of the aircraft.

Key Features Of The Antelope:

• Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft
• Has a hidden propulsion system
• The all electric propulsion translates to an environmentally friendly aircraft
• Capable traveling within a city
• Has a compact profile

The Antelope is a quiet aircraft, efficient and safe. The aircraft has been designed to have pleasing aesthetics both inside and outside the aircraft. The passenger compartment which is also the cockpit, provides a very well thought out interior which is also comfortable and relaxing to ride in. The company states the aircraft will have an intuitive interface allowing the passenger to easily pilot and fly the aircraft to the desired destination. Bellwether Industries states their eVTOL aircraft has very high standards of craftsmanship.

Beautiful, comfortable and simple. —Bellwether

In addition, the company has partnered with multiple high quality suppliers to assure high quality materials, electronics and parts are used to construct the aircraft. The company foresees the aircraft to be used for personal use as well as on-demand air taxi service. The current full scale production model is planned to carry two passengers. Future models will carry four to five passengers.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot (plus possibly 1 passenger)
• Maximum cruise speed: 217 km/h (135 mph)
• Range: Unknown
• Flight Time: 60 to 90 minutes (estimated)
• Maximum altitude: 914 meters (3,000 feet)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
• Propellers: 4 ducted fans
• Electric Motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Canopy over cockpit
• Tail: V-tail
• Landing gear: The aircraft either uses the base of its fuselage to land on or there are retractable landing struts the aircraft uses to land on
• 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.

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase

Resources:

• Bellwether Industries website
• Bellwether Industries Facebook
• Bellwether Industries YouTube Channel
• Bellwether Industries Instagram
• Bellwether Industries LinkedIn
• Video: Project Antelope | Urban Air Transport Vehicle 'Volar', Bellwether Industries, Mar. 9, 2019
• Article: Bellwether Industries first volar prototype was partnering with Axalta to provide a fine finishing., Bellwether Industries, Aug. 7, 2019
• Article: Bellwether Stories | Chapter 1: The Start, Bellwether Industries, Aug. 7, 2019
• Article: Bellwether Stories | Chapter 2. The Design, Bellwether Industries, Aug. 8, 2019
• Article: Bellwether Industries is partnering with Enata Aerospace to visualize the future of UAM., Bellwether Industries, Sept. 6, 2019
• Article: Bellwether Stories | Chapter 3. The Manufacturing, Bellwether Industries, Nov. 27, 2019
• Article: UK’s Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai, eVTOL Magazine, Dec. 31, 2021
• Article: Bellwether Stories | Chapter 4. The Process, Bellwether Industries, Jan. 19, 2020
• Article: What is UAM? The Basic Concepts of Urban Air Mobility., Bellwether Industries, Jan. 6, 2021
• Video: Bellwether eVTOL | Free Flight with Volar, Bellwether Industries, Jan. 12, 2022
• Article: Bellwether Releases Video Showing First Test Flight of eVTOL Prototype, Flying Magazine, Jan. 13, 2022
• Video: Bellwether eVTOL | Day To Day Life With Volars, Bellwether, Feb. 26, 2022
• Video: Bellwether eVTOL – Flight Tests Successfully Completed, Technical Evolution, Mar. 21, 2022
• Article: Bellwether eVTOL Takes Flight, Electric VTOL News, Feb. 28, 2022