Flowcopter FC100 (production model)

(Photo credit: Flowcopter)

Flowcopter FC100 (production model)
Flowcopter Ltd
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
www.flowcopter.com

Founded in 2019, Flowcopter is based in Edinburgh, Scotland in the United Kingdom. The company is in the business of manufacturing and selling a heavy-lift robust air cargo autonomous VTOL multicopter aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company uses a hybrid power source allowing not only heavy cargo loads to be lifted but also travel at a long range. The company will switch to a battery powered aircraft when battery density provides enough energy for heavy loads and long range air travel. Flowcopter is a join venture between SeaHorse Air in Scotland and Evdron in Singapore.

Flowcopter FC100 air cargo hybrid-VTOL production model
The Flowcopter FC100 is an autonomous heavy-lift air cargo hybrid-VTOL production model multicopter aircraft. The aircraft uses a proprietary propulsion system using hydraulic motors called Digital Displacement Transmission Technology and using an aviation internal combustion engine that is fueled with ethanol. The aircraft will be able to accept batteries for a power source once battery density is high enough to allow for long range heavy-lift air cargo transportation.

While not all specifications are listed on the company's website, we do know the aircraft has a range of 300 km (186) and the maximum flight time is two hours. The maximum payload weight for the aircraft is 150 kg (331 lb). The aircraft has its longest range 300 km (186), with a light payload. The aircraft has four propellers with an open frame fuselage and its power source in the middle of the aircraft. The payload is located under the fuselage and between the two fixed skid landing gear.

The safety features Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) and if one propeller fails, 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. 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.

The company states on their website that the aircraft can connect and communicate with established control systems. The air cargo multicopter can be used construction inspections, powerline inspections, filming, security, logistics (on shore and off shore), crop spraying, fire fighting, humanitarian relief, disaster relief, casevac, medevac, search and rescue, energy, mining, maintenance routines and more. The aircraft can take off and land from prepared landing sites, unprepared landing sites and from a mobile landing site (a trailer). The company states the aircraft replaces a helicopter for air cargo transportation.

Specification:

• Aircraft type: Autonomous air cargo hybrid-VTOL production model
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Capacity: Air cargo
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Range: 300 km (186)
• Flight time: 2 hours
• Maximum payload weight: 150 kg (331 lb), the aircraft has its longest range with a light payload
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Hydraulic motors: Digital Displacement Transmission Technology
• Power source: Internal combustion engine
• Fuselage: Metal
• Window: Canopy over cockpit
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear

Related Aircraft:

• Seahorse Air H5 (concept design)
• Seahorse Air SH5-3E (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Flowcopter website
• Flowcopter Twitter
• Flowcopter YouTube
• Flowcopter Instagram
• Flowcopter LinkedIn