Flyt Aerospace Red Hummingbird (concept design)

Red Hummingbird (concept design)
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.

Red Hummingbird one passenger eVTOL concept design multicopter aircraft
The Red Hummingbird is a one passenger eVTOL concept design multicopter aircraft that has been created for the use of advanced air mobility (AAM). The multicopter has an open cockpit. The aircraft has been designed for low altitude flying for street flying (to be used like an automobile), a race course or off-road flying. The aircraft will have room for luggage or cargo. The aircraft will have a horn, headlights, rear lights and turn signals.

The aircraft has been designed to be flown by a pilot using fly-by-wire technology and is flown with two joysticks. Completely remote or autonomous piloting as not been designed into the electronics of the aircraft; however, there are several functions of the aircraft which are automated. The Red Hummingbird has been designed to be extremely safe, quick, and responsive.

The calculated maximum cruise speed is 60 mph (97 km/h) and has an estimated acceleration rate of 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.1 seconds. The useful flight time is 15 minutes with a maximum flight time of 19 minutes. The maximum cruise altitude is 10 feet and the altitude is electronically governed. The maximum altitude that the aircraft is technically capable of flying is 4,000 ft (1,219 m). All specifications for the aircraft are estimated.

The aircraft has eight propellers, electric motors and is powered by 24 battery packs. The planned empty weight of the aircraft is 160 lb (73 kg), the empty weight with batteries is 254 lb (115 kg), the maximum payload is foreseen to be 250 lb (113 kg) and it will have a maximum takeoff weight of 504 lb (229 kg). The weight of the aircraft was designed to comply with FAA rules. The fuselage will be made from carbon fiber composite and aircraft aluminum. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. The safety features of the aircraft include auto hover, station holding, auto return to start, anti-roll control and anti-collision altitude auto-adjust.

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 passenger concept design aircraft (all specifications are estimated)
• Piloting: 1 pilot, fly-by-wire using two joysticks
• Maximum cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.1 seconds
• Flight time (useful): 15 minutes
• Flight time (maximum): 19 minutes
• Maximum cruise altitude: 10 feet (maximum altitude is electronically governed)
• Maximum altitude: The aircraft can technically capable of flying to 4,000 ft (1,219 m)
• Empty weight: 160 lb (73 kg)
• Empty weight with batteries: 254 lb (115 kg) (the weight of the aircraft was designed to comply with FAA rules)
• Maximum payload: 250 lb (113 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 504 lb (229 kg)
• Propellers: 8 propellers
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: 24 batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite and aircraft aluminum
• Window: 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. The aircraft has auto hover, station holding, auto return to start, anti-roll control and anti-collision altitude auto-adjust.

Related Aircraft:

• Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle 16 (defunct)
• Flyt Aerospace FlytCycle V1 (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 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