Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle V1.5 (defunct)

FlytCycle V1.5 (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 V1.5 one passenger eVTOL defunct prototype multicopter aircraft
The FlytCycle V1.5 is a one passenger eVTOL flying defunct prototype multicopter aircraft and was made as a test bed with the ultimate hope this aircraft design would eventually be used for advanced air mobility (AAM). The aircraft is piloted by a person and was not made for remote or autonomous piloting. The aircraft has an open cockpit with a pilot's seat electronics to control the aircraft. It is recommended the pilot wear a pilot's helmet.

While there is a hypothetical cruise speed for the multicopter it was never flown at the actual cruise speed because this is a prototype and 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 flight time of the multicopter is 12 minutes. The empty weight of the aircraft without batteries is 128 lb (58 kg), the empty weight with batteries is 254 lb (115 kg), it has a maximum payload is 250 lb (113 kg) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 504 lb (229 kg).

The aircraft has 12 propellers and 12 electric motors to make sure there is not only enough power to fly the aircraft but to make sure there is redundancy in the aircraft in case a propeller or electric motor failure occurs. Two stacked propellers are inside each protective duct and there are a total of six propeller ducts. There is no protective mesh on the top and bottom of each duct unlike the FlytCycle V3 concept design aircraft. The aircraft is powered by 64 batteries and the total weight of the batteries is 126 lb (57 kg). The fuselage is made from 4130 steel. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear.

While there was hope this aircraft would fly well, the air ducts had too much mass at the front and rear of the aircraft and caused the aircraft to be unstable. While the aircraft was flown, the design and flight tests had to be abandoned due to the instability of the aircraft.

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: 21 minutes
• Empty weight: 128 lb (58 kg)
• Empty weight with batteries: 254 lb (115 kg)
• Maximum payload: 250 lb (113 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 504 lb (229 kg)
• Propellers: 12 propellers that are protected by 6 ducts with mesh on the top and bottom of each propeller duct
• Electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Power source: 64 batteries
• Battery weight: 126 lb (57 kg)
• Fuselage: 4130 steel
• Cockpit: Open cockpit
• Landing gear: Fixed 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 (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