Happy Takeoff CitiFlex (defunct)

CitiFlex (defunct)
Happy Takeoff
Wichita, Kansas, USA
www.happytakeoff.com 
https://www.happytakeoff.com/

Kansas (USA) based Happy Takeoff was founded by Danielle McLean, Founder/CEO, Rachel Locks, Co-founder/COO, and Dominique McLean, Co-founder/CTO with the goal to make Urban Air Mobility (UAM) clean, efficient and affordable. The company's core value is that the planet is number one and in addition to work with business partners which are not contributing to green house gases emissions and to foster innovation. 

Happy Takeoff has chosen a hydrogen-electric power source for its vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft because they have projected, conservatively, the cost of flying VTOL aircraft powered by fuel cells, including the costs of all support facilities, would be one-third less of than the cost of flying with an all battery-powered eVTOL aircraft.

The company points out that because the energy density of batteries is still too low and that battery-only eVTOL aircraft will need to be recharged or batteries swapped out many times throughout the day, which means that eVTOL manufacturers (or air taxi companies) will need to build many expensive recharging stations. Since less recharging stations will be needed to be built to resupply hydrogen fuel cell powered VTOL aircraft, the cost per flight with Happy Takeoff's aircraft, will be less than flying in an all-battery powered eVTOL aircraft. 

The company's first concept design hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft was the CitiFlex which had a forward swept high wing, with a boom on each wing with VTOL propellers, has a high rudder, rear VTOL propellers and wheeled landing gear. The CitiFlex is a retired concept design and the company is in the process of making a remote-controlled sub-scale prototype for flight testing, in addition, the company is currently designing their full-scale production hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft called Prism. 

The company also intends to convince Uber that hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft should be included in their Uber Elevate strategy. The company plans to raise $5.2 million USD to launch a subsidiary company in Hungary and has applied for funding through the Agility Prime program (U.S. Air Force) and is seeking an additional $5 million USD in financing. 

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hydrogen-electric VTOL concept aircraft
• Piloting: Unknown
• Capacity: Unknown
• Cruise speed: Unknown 
• Expected range: Unknown
• Propellers: 8 VTOL propellers
• Electric Motors: 8
• Wings: A forward swept high wing design, with booms on each side of the wings with the VTOL propellers
• Landing gear: Wheeled landing gear
• Safety Features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft. 

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase

Resources:

• Happy Takeoff website   
• Happy Takeoff Facebook 
• Happy Takeoff Twitter    
• Happy Takeoff YouTube Channel 
• Happy Takeoff LinkedIn  
• Video: Happy Takeoff, Happy Takeoff, April 28, 2020
• Video: Happy Takeoff - Agility Prime 2020 - Virtual Booth, Happy Takeoff, May 1, 2020
• Article: Women and Drones Announces New Corporate Member Happy Take Off, Drone Industry Wire, June 2, 2020
• White Paper: Captive-Use Hydrogen For Advanced Air Mobility, Happy Takeoff, Aug. 7, 2020
• Article: Happy Takeoff Publishes Hydrogen Paper, eVTOL News, Aug. 7, 2020
• Article: Happy Takeoff Fast-Tracks Prism Hydrogen-Powered eVTOL for 2023 Service Entry, Future Flight, Sept. 11, 2020