Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle V1 (defunct)

FlytCycle V1 (defunct)
Flyt Aerospace
Cupertino, California, USA
www.flytaerospace.com

Flyt Aerospace was founded in June 2013 in Cupertino, California, USA by Ansel Misfeldt. In ninth grade, Misfeldt dreamed he could fly to school each morning so he could sleep in longer in the mornings. He studied at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California, USA) obtaining a business degree in 2010 while taking courses in mechanical engineering and in material science at the same time. He also studied some aerospace engineering on his own time while at the university. All the while, he continued his dream of creating a small one person flying machine and had made hundreds of drawings and sketches of aircraft up to 2013. The company is currently seeking investors. (Image credits: Ansel Misfeldt)

Misfeldt quit his job in early 2013, started his own aerospace company and has focused on building his own personal flying eVTOL aircraft and small drones since then. Misfeldt reveals that creating a personal flying machine is a very difficult and a complex problem. He has designed, manufactured and flown at least nine different prototypes. Two of his early prototypes were vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) multicopter aircraft powered by gasoline engines using mechanical gears, shafts and pulleys to transfer the power to the propellers. The remainder of his prototypes are electric VTOL (or eVTOL) multicopter aircraft made with the ultimate goal of creating a personal aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM).

Flyt Aerospace is now in the business of selling a small eVTOL drone called the Defender X4E with a maximum payload of 5 lb (2.27 kg) with over one hour endurance that are sold to government entities and the military. The Defender X4E has been designed to allow it to have many options so the drone can be adapted to the customer's requirements. Recently, Misfledt has partnered with the Land Rotor, based in Florida, USA and is creating passenger eVTOL aircraft for Land Rotor, for advanced air mobility.

FlytCycle V1 one passenger eVTOL defunct prototype multicopter aircraft
The FlytCycle V1 is a one passenger eVTOL flying defunct prototype multicopter aircraft and was made as a test bed to prove the aircraft was airworthy. The aircraft is piloted by a person and was not made for remote or autonomous piloting. The aircraft has an open and cramped cockpit with a pilot's seat and including the appropriate electronics to control the aircraft. It is recommended that the pilot wears a pilot's helmet when flying this aircraft. The aircraft was flown about 20-30 times.

While there is a hypothetical cruise speed for the multicopter it was never flown at the actual cruise speed. This is because as a prototype aircraft, it was only flown close to the ground for testing purposes. The aircraft was never intended to be flown at what would be considered its cruise speed. The multicopter has a maximum flight time of about 12 minutes. The aircraft has 12 stacked open propellers and 12 electric motors. Two propellers are stacked on top of each other which are placed around the outside of the fuselage.

The empty weight of the multicopter without batteries is estimated at 110 lb (50 kg), the empty weight of the aircraft with batteries is 148 lb (67 kg), it has a maximum intended payload of about 220 lb (100 kg) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 368 lb (167 kg). The power source of the aircraft is 32 batteries which have a total weight of 38 lb (17 kg). The fuselage is made of mild steel. The aircraft lands on fix skid landing gear that is perpendicular to the fuselage.

Current Flyt Aerospace design and manufacturing capabilities
Flyt Aerospace is in the business of selling a small eVTOL drone called the Defender X4E with a maximum payload of 5 lb (2.27 kg) with over one hour endurance that are sold to government entities and the military. The Defender X4E has been designed to allow it to have many options so the drone can be adapted to the customer's requirements. Recently, Misfledt has partnered with the Land Rotor, based in Florida, USA and is creating passenger eVTOL aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM).

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL one passenger defunct prototype multicopter aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cruise speed: There is a hypothetical cruise speed for the multicopter but because this is a prototype and is only flown close to the ground for testing purposes, the aircraft was never intended to be flown at what would be considered its cruise speed
• Flight time (estimated): 12 minutes
• Empty weight: 110 lb (50 kg)
• Empty weight with batteries: 148 lb (67 kg)
• Maximum payload: 220 lb (100 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 368 lb (167 kg)
• Propellers: 12 open stacked propellers
• Electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Power source: 32 batteries
• Battery weight: 38 lb (17 kg)
• Fuselage: Mild steel
• Cockpit: Open cockpit (a cramped cockpit)
• Landing gear: Fixed perpendicular skid landing gear
• 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. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle 16 (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle V1.5 (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle V2 (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle V3 (concept design)
• Flyt Aerospace Hoverboard (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace Liberator (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace Mark III (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace Mark IV (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace Medivac Drone (concept design)
• Flyt Aerospace Red Hummingbird (concept design)
• Flyt Aerospace Supply Drone (concept design)
• Flyt Aerospace Troop Transporter FT-2 (concept design)
• Land Rotor AAM Sportster (concept design)
• Land Rotor AAM Sportster (prototype)

Resources:

• Flyt Aerospace website
• Flyt Aerospace YouTube Channel
• Video: Flyt 16 miscellaneous flight tests, Flyt Aerospace, Sept. 27, 2016
• Video: Guy builds working hoverbike in garage, Flyt Aerospace, July 17, 2017