Esprit Aeronautics Lancer ePAV (defunct)

(Image credit: Esprit Aeronautics)

Lancer ePAV (defunct)
Esprit Aeronautics Limited (out of business)
Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom
www.espritaeronautics.com

Found on October 90, 2018, Esprit Aeronautics Limited was formed in the United Kingdom. Esprit Aeronautics Limited is developing a one passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called the Lancer ePAV (PAV = Personal Air Vehicle) which will have the option of being all-electric or a hybrid electric aircraft. The aircraft will be used for the advanced air mobility (AAM) aviation industry. Esprit Aeronautics is also seeking investors to make a working prototype and develop their aircraft(s) for commercial and military production. The company was dissolved on March 17, 2020.

Before October 2018, the company was under another name and has used their previous aircraft, the PAV-UL ultralight, as a base to revise and redesign the new Lancer ePAV aircraft. A historical record of the PAV-UL ultralight specifications and graphics are highlighted on the PAV-X PAV-UL Ultralight "eVTOL News" website.

Many years before the hundreds of eVTOL aircraft inventors formed their companies, many sketches, ideas, concepts and designs for personal VTOL aircraft where explored by the owner of Esprit Aeronautics. He took the front cover of Flight International in February 2005 with a story called Drive to the Skies, followed in November 2008 with the front cover of Popular Science with the story titled Hybrid of the Sky.

For more information on other aircraft developed by Espirit Aeronautics, see the Esprit Aeronautics Heavy Lift Cargo Utility Platform aircraft page.

Then in 2009, tethered tests were performed by Esprit lifting a 50 kg (110 lbs) payload at a height of 500 m (1,640 ft) ASL (above sea level) and in wind speeds of up to 20 knots (37 km/h, 23 mph). In 2018, a 60% scale twelve (12) rotor eVTOL Proof Of Concept (POC) was being tested to carry out small scale parachute drops tests.

Lancer ePAV passenger eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL multicopter (concept design)
The Lancer ePAV is a one passenger eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL that is based around a tried and tested frame construction which includes a unique form of stability/control technology unique in current eVTOL designs. A future dual seat Lancer ePAV is also planned.

The estimated maximum speed of the aircraft is 145 km/h (90 mph). The flight varies depending upon the power source. If the aircraft has an all-electric power source, the flight time is expected to be 32 minutes. If the aircraft has a hybrid-electric power source, then the flight time is anticipated to be one hour and forty minutes. The aircraft has eight stacked propellers, eight electric motors and can be powered by an all-electric power source or a hybrid-electric power source. The aircraft has one high main wing and has one rear twin tail. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The multicopter has fixed skid landing gear. 

Several key design elements can be noted with this aircraft. A wing is used to extend the flight range of the aircraft. A unique form of stability/control technology has been developed for this aircraft. The propulsion system is interchangeable between all electric or hybrid-electric and can be changed out within a matter of minutes. Finally, an extremely safe emergency parachute system has been made for this aircraft.

At the end of 2018 the basic testing of a scaled parachute safety system was completed and its relevant patent filed. It is a low altitude safe recovery system that at a minimum height of 100 ft (~30 m) AGL (above ground level). Multiple smaller parachutes are used for redundancy and open faster. For redundancy, if one parachute fails to open, only two are actually needed for a safe landing, and for speed, smaller parachutes open much faster allowing for a low altitude emergency landing to take place, if necessary.

Military parachutists drop a heavy rucksack (a military grade backpack) below them on a cord to reduce impact forces on their legs & back during landing. When the ePAV parachute is deployed, it releases its battery packs on custom shock straps below the air-frame to reduce the impact of the aircraft when landing on the ground and in addition, this also removes any fire risks due to any unforeseen battery problem.

Components for the aircraft are being made as of July 2019. Esprit Aeronautics is open to selling or leasing the aircraft depending upon market demand. Their goal is to have three working prototypes ready airframes in time for the Farnborough Airshow in 2020.

Expected mission capability
The company foresees the aircraft to be used for advanced air mobility (AAM), personal commuting, pleasure flights, tourism, search and rescue, police work, first responder missions, surveys, security, reconnasissance and other uses.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL multicopter (concept design)
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Flight computer: Semi-autonomous flight control reduces pilot workload
• Maximum speed (VNE): 145 km/h (90 mph)
• Flight time: Battery: 32 min. Hybrid: 1 hr. 40 min.
• Maximum payload weight: Up to 120 kg (264 lbs)
• Propellers: 8 propellers
• Electric motors: 8 (30 kw) electric motors
• Power: Available in all-electric or hybrid-electric
• Batteries: Dual, Independent energy storage packs, custom built for the aircraft.
• Hybrid-electric generation: Custom 60 kw gen-set designed and tested in the UK.
• Wing: 1 high main wing
• Tail: 1 twin tail
• Emergency recovery parachute system: Works at 100 ft/30 m
• 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. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Related Aircraft:

• Esprit Aeronautics Heavy Lift Cargo Utility Platform (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