Edea 22/3 Kamino

Edea 22/3 Kamino
Edea
Thüringen, Vorarlberg, Austria
www.edea.at

Aircraft inventor Simon Etlinger founded the Edea company and is based in Austria. Etlinger as created several versions of hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for the Phase I, II and III of Boeing’s GoFly Prize contest. He completed the Phase III GoFly Prize competition with this aircraft. Etlinger is looking for investors to create an Urban Air Mobility VTOL aircraft and bring it to market for serial production.

The Edea 22/3 Kamino concept (previously designated the Edea 22/3 Kamino) design is a one passenger quadcopter hybrid-electric personal air vehicle. The estimated speed of the aircraft in 111-148 km/h (69-92 mph) with a cruise altitude of 2,000 m (6,562 feet). The estimated range of the aircraft is 97 km (60 miles) traveling at a maximum speed of 111 km/h (69 mph).

No testing of a sub-scale or full scale prototype has taken place as of April 2020. In November 2020, it was reported that Etlinger had applied for a grant from the Australian government, and would pursue building and testing of the Kamino if the grant was approved. For forward flight, the rotors tilt forward and can tilt independently of each other to move the aircraft in any direction. It is a hybrid-electric VTOL design, using current technology allowing the passenger to take advantage of the maximum possible range of the aircraft.

The aircraft has a motorcycle type seat and would be an aircraft that someone would be interested in, to get off the streets for a faster method to travel to travel for pleasure or to work. Because there is no canopy, this sporty aircraft design would appeal to anyone who enjoys the wind directly on them when traveling, as is the case when riding a motorcycle.

The inventor chose a a Wankel engine because they are vibration free, have a superior power to weight ratio than a piston engine, are almost one third the size of an equivalent piston engine, have only two moving parts, has less vibration and are multi-fuel capable (such as biofuel, ethanol, and can also use a wider range of octane fuel). The main part of this project per the inventor is making the hybrid-electric power plant functional and allowing others to use this type of power plant on their VTOL aircraft.

The Edea 22/1 Jay was entered into Phase I of the Boeing’s GoFly Prize contest. For Phase II, the Edea 22/2 Squid was entered. For Phase III of the contest, Etlinger entered the Edea 22/3 Kamino aircraft. All three Edea GoFly Prize contest entries have been completely different VTOL aircraft designs. It has been reported that 3,700 innovators from 103 countries have participated in Boeing’s GoFly Prize contest.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Quadcopter hyrid-electric VTOL
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Cruise speed: Estimated 111-148 km/h (69-92 mph)
• Cruise altitude: 2,000 m (6,562 feet)
• Range: 97 km (60 miles) is the estimated range of the aircraft if traveling at a constant speed of 111 km/h (69 mph)
• Propellers: 4 counter-rotating fans
• Electric motors: 4 motors
• Power source: Wankel internal combustion engine
• Fuel: Biofuel, ethanol, neutral emission fuels and regular fuels
• Range: Forward level flight provides the longest range
• Forward flight: The quadrotors tilt slightly for forward flight
• Landing gear: Fixed skids
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft. If the internal combustion engine fails there is a 2 to 3 minute battery emergency reserve.

Resources:

• Edea website
• Simon Etlinger LinkedIn
• Article: GoFly Enters Phase II, Vertiflite, July/Aug. 2018
• Article: GoFly Hits 40, Electric VTOL News, Feb. 6, 2019
• Article: AHS Supports GoFly!, Vertiflite, Nov./Dec. 2017 
• Article: Flying Solo: GoFly Advances Single-Passenger Air Mobility Solutions, Vertiflite, May/June 2019
• Article: GoFly Inspires Innovation, Vertiflite, May/June 2020
• Article: GoFly Teams Prepare to Fly Again, Vertiflite, Nov./Dec. 2020