Esprit Aeronautics Heavy Lift Cargo Utility Platform (defunct)

(Image credit: Esprit Aeronautics)

Heavy Lift Cargo Utility Platform (defunct)
Esprit Aeronautics Limited (out of business)
Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom
www.espritaeronautics.com

Founded on October 9, 2018, Esprit Aeronautics Limited was formed in the United Kingdom. Esprit Aeronautics Limited is developing both an electric and hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Heavy Lift Cargo Utility (HLCU) Platform. In addition, the company plans on making an electric and hybrid-electric one passenger VTOL aircraft called the Lancer ePAV (PAV = Personal Air Vehicle). The aircraft will be used for the advanced air mobility (AAM) aviation industry. At the time, Esprit Aeronautics was seeking investors to develop their aircraft. Esprit Aeronautics Limited was dissolved on March 17, 2020.

According to Esprit Aeronautics, millions of tons of food and other products are delivered by truck in the United Kingdom each year. Esprit Aeronautics feels this lucrative market is underdeveloped in the small unmanned eVTOL market and in many instances, goods can be more efficiently delivered by air than by truck.

Heavy Lift Cargo Utility Platform air cargo electric and hybrid-electric VTOL (concept design)
The Heavy Lift Cargo Utility Platform Esprit Aeronautics is an autonomous piloted air cargo all-electric or hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft. The company envisions their multicopter aircraft to flown for coastal, urban and rural use.

The aircraft has eight propellers, eight electric motors and can be powered by either an all electric power source or use a hybrid-electric power source. The calculated maximum payload weight for the aircraft is 200 kg (441 lb). The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear.

The aircraft In rural areas the autonomous eVTOL aircraft can be very useful for multiple reasons. During delivery, trucks are often forced to stop at multiple points throughout a route, and such routes may often be circuitous or otherwise difficult to maneuver. eVTOL aircraft flying directly from point A to B will circumvent such routes and can deliver goods with minimal delay. In an urban area, autonomous eVTOL cargo delivery would not be subject to delays caused by traffic and possess the aforementioned benefit of transport directly from point A to B. In addition, once landing locations can accept deliveries 24 hours, deliverers can take place in the day and night providing faster service to customers.

In terms of economics, the cost of operating an all-electric of a hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft is substantially lower than a helicopter or plane. The cost of an eVTOL aircraft compared to a truck is either equal to truck deliveries or less. Even if the cost of delivery by an eVTOL cargo aircraft is slightly more than that of a truck, the speed of the delivery might outweigh the price increase for the customer.

Expected mission capability
The company foresees the aircraft to be used for standard air cargo delivery, crop spraying systems for farmers, sensors to study the environment & crop yields, mineral surveys, security, coastal support for ship-to-shore or ship-to-ship requirements, search and rescue, medevac, and other uses.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Air cargo electric or hybrid-electric VTOL multicopter aircraft (concept design)
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Payload: 200 kg (441 lb)
• Propellers: 8 stacked propellers
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Propulsion: Electric or hybrid-electric power source
• Wings: 1 high main wing
• Landing gear: Fixed skid 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:

• Esprit Aeronautics Lancer ePAV (defunct) 

Company Insights:

• Tracxn

Resources:

• Esprit Aeronautics Limited website (out of business)
• Esprit Aeronautics Limited Facebook
• Esprit Aeronautics Limited Twitter
• Esprit Aeronautics Limited YouTube
• Esprit Aeronautics Limited Instagram
• Press Release: Are eVTOL Air Taxi's The Only Solution, Esprit Aeronautics Limited, Jun. 13, 2019
• \Press Release: RAM - Rural Air Mobility, Esprit Aeronautics Limited, Jul. 17, 2019
• Press Release: Rural Air Mobility or Urban Air Mobility?, Esprit Aeronautics Limited, Aug. 1, 2019