Flyter PAC VTOL 720-200

PAC VTOL 720-200
Flyter
Moscow, Russia
www.flyter.aero

Flyter was founded by Chief Designer Yuri Solodovnikov on February 18, 2018 and has a team of a group of young aircraft designers and aviation oriented people. The company calls their aircraft a "universal aircraft" because it can take off and land as a multi-copter and fly along the route as a plane. The startup is currently seeking funding to achieve various goals for their aircraft, from a completely unmanned cargo transport aircraft to a fully-manned air taxi service.

The first public presentation by Flyter was titled, "Analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the basic schemes of vertical take-off and landing aircraft" and took place in May at HeliRussia 2019.

At first glance, the Flyter aircraft look like conventional one (1) or two (2) seat personal airplanes. But on closer inspection of the aircraft, noticeable differences can be seen. There are two (2) sets of full wings, one (1) full set in the front of the aircraft and one (1) full set in the rear. Under the wings are multiple propellers allowing the aircraft to take off and land like a helicopter.

In addition, while most eVTOL start-ups are focusing on the transportation of people in urban areas, Flyter's first priority is to develop a working cargo hybrid-electric and all-electric VTOL aircraft due to the need to transport goods to remote locations in Russia. There are also plans for an all gas propulsion power-plant. Therefore, the first version of Flyter will be an autonomous aircraft with a hybrid power plant, allowing the aircraft to fly a distance of up to 900 km (559 miles). The autonomous all-electrical model will be able cover a distance of 150-165 km (93-103 miles). The need for this VTOL cargo aircraft in Russia is economically important as it is estimated to be twice as inexpensive and provide faster deliveries than a helicopter.

In Russia, there is an urgent need for unmanned aircraft systems capable of transporting goods to remote areas of the country. Such drones should take off and land vertically, like helicopters, and in flight should be economical, like airplanes. Our drones (autonomous aircraft) fully meet these requirements. In addition, they will be simple, reliable and in the future, safer than manned aircraft, and the cost of transporting cargo by Flyters will be two (2) times cheaper than helicopters. -Chief Designer Yuri Solodovnikov.

However, during the first year of business for Flyter, two (2) different aircraft models were made, a one (1) passenger PAC VTOL 420-120 for air taxi service (not a cargo aircraft), and a PAC VTOL 720-200 model. The PAC VTOL 720-200 aircraft can configured for an autonomous all-cargo aircraft, or a two (2) passenger piloted or autonomous air taxi/training aircraft and with an all-electric, hybrid-electric or an internal combustion engine (ICE) engine. And the PAK 720-200 also can be configured as a light sport aircraft conventional small plane with no lifting propellers. One can see why Flyter calls their aircraft "universal aircraft".

In one April 2019 article, the company addresses possible skepticism from engineers and others in the aviation industry who might conclude two problems might occur with propellers located directly under the wings of an aircraft. 1) The wing will create a zone of reduced pressure creating a negative lift and 2) The wing will block the thrust of the propellers needed to create lift. To address these two (2) issues, test beds have already be created and tests have started to help validate their technology and to provide information in making this a real-world aircraft. The effectiveness of the lifting screw located under the structural elements is called the flyt-effect. However, once the plane is in flight using the wings for lift, the lifting propellers are turned off.

Safety is a key component for the design of their aircraft and Flyter is adding instrumentation with the ability to detect obstacles and void them when flying and their aircraft will also to able to avoid mid-air collisions with any other type of aircraft near its vicinity. Their safety goals include having enough flight testing before production starts so that their VTOL production aircraft will be flying without any unexpected problems. In the unlikely event of an emergency, there will be an emergency parachute system place.

The main product is PAK VTOL 720-200 (or PAK GDP 720-200) and has been in development as of May 2019. The Flyter design concepts are as follows: Simplicity, reliability, versatility, availability, cost (low) and security.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft
• Payload Type: Cargo or 2 passengers
• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Range: 900 km (559 miles)
• Hybrid-Electric Range: 900 km (559 miles)
• All-electric Range: Up to 150 km (93 miles)
• Cruising speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Cruising altitude: 3,000 m (9,842 ft)
• Maximum speed: 300 km/h (186 mph)
• Width: 7,000 mm (23 ft)
• Length: 6,250 mm (20.5 ft)
• Height: 2,650 mm (8.5 ft)
• ICE Engine: Rotax 912 iS (www.flyrotax.com)
• Helix VTOL propellers: 8 total propellers [4 propellers under each wing] (www.helix-propeller.de)
• Woodcomp forward flight propeller. (www.woodcomp.cz)

Resources:

• Flyter website
• Flyter Facebook
• Flyter YouTube
• Flyter Instagram
• Flyter VK
• Video: Flyter PAK GDP 420-120, Jurij Solodovnikov, Oct. 18, 2018
• Article: Russian engineers will create a universal aircraft for cargo delivery, Rossprimavera, Nov. 27, 2018
• Article: Russian technology startup Flyter, Russian Drone, Apr. 4, 2019
• Article: Startup Flyter creates a flyt-demonstration booth, Russian Drone, Apr. 4, 2019
• Article: Flyter seek investment, SUAS News, Apr. 29, 2019
• Article: Flyter, Robo Trends, May 2019
• Video: Flyter PAC VTOL 720-200, Jurij Solodovnikov, Mar. 17, 2019
• Video: Flyter vision at HeliRussia 2019, Jurij Solodovnikov, May 21, 2019
• Article: Russian startup spreads its wings, Sky Review, May 30, 2019
• Article: Flyter creates a test bed, Russian Drone, Jul. 22, 2019
• Article: Flyter moves forward, sUAS News, Dec. 30, 2020