Hien Aero Technologies HIEN 2 (concept design)
HIEN 2 (concept design)
HIEN Aero Technologies Co., LTD.
Koganei City, Tokyo, Japan
www.hien-aero.com
Founded in December 2021, Hien Aero Technologies is in the business of research, designing, manufacturing and sales of scalable passenger and cargo hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company is based in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan. The company's main goals is safe and excellent aerodynamics, efficient and sustainable flight, quiet aircraft, long range capability and each model is scalable. (Image credit: HIEN Aero Technologies)
HIEN hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft features:
- Has a long range distance with the use of wings and with a hybrid-electric power source
- Has a high cruise speed
- Each aircraft is scalable to larger size aircraft
- Aircraft will be made for passengers or air cargo
- The aircraft are equipped with one or more 10 kW (or greater) gas turbine hybrid-electric units, providing stable power generation performance
- The cargo aircraft can be used for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) high-speed air logistics
- The turbine engines can be used as an emergency power supply in a disaster area
HIEN 2 passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
The HIEN 2 is a two passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft is remotely piloted, uses autopilot or is piloted by artificial intelligence (AI). At first glance, the aircraft looks similar to a Cessna 150 two-place gasoline powered engine general aviation plane. But upon close inspection, you'll see major differences that start with the canopy over the cockpit, the high gull-wing, the VTOL propellers on booms, the pusher turbine engine and the highly stylized tail. The aircraft is planned to provide a high level of safety and a comfortable onboard experience for the passengers.
The anticipated maximum cruise speed of the aircraft is ~180 km/h (112 mph) and the expected range of the aircraft 180 km (112 m). The maximum payload weight of the aircraft is 150 kg (331 lb). The aircraft has eight VTOL-only propellers, powered by eight electric motors and are mounted on two booms which are parallel to the fuselage. There is one pusher turbine engine used for forward flight. The gas turbine uses Jet-A1/B kerosene for fuel. The power supply capacity of the turbine engine is 50 kWh.
The aircraft has one high main gull-wing. The tail is a rear side-fuselage mounted and boom mounted stylized wide U-shape horizontal and vertical stabilizer. The tail is one of the most elegant and unusual tails that has been seen on a small general aviation eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite material for a high strength and low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.
HIEN 2 and its various air missions
The company predicts the HIEN 2 will be used for private use and tourism in both urban areas, rural and resort areas. The aircraft could also be used for air taxi service for advanced air mobility (AAM).
Future outlook
The company is planning to provide demonstration flights of the aircraft during EXPO 2025 held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The company's air cargo aircraft is expected to be for sale by 2025 and passenger aircraft will be ready for sale by 2030.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
- Pilot: Remote, autopilot, autonomous piloting or artificial intelligence (AI) piloting
- Capacity: 2 passengers and luggage
- Maximum cruise speed: ~180 km/h (112 mph)
- Range: ~180 km (112 m)
- Maximum payload weight: 150 kg (331 lb)
- Propellers: 8 propellers for VTOL flight
- Electric motors: 8 electric motors
- Power source: 1 gas turbine using kerosene (Jet-A1/B)
- Power supply capacity: 50 kWh
- Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
- Windows: Canopy over the cockpit
- Wings: 1 high main gull-wing
- Tail: 1 rear side-fuselage mounted and boom mounted stylized wide U-shape horizontal and vertical stabilizer
- Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
- Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.
Related Aircraft:
- Hien Aero Technologies HIEN 6 (concept design)
- Hien Aero Technologies HIEN X (concept design)
- Hien Aero Technologies HIEN Dr-One (concept design)
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Hien Aero Technologies website
- Hien Aero Technologies Facebook
- Hien Aero Technologies Twitter
- Hien Aero Technologies YouTube Channel
- Hien Aero Technologies Instagram
- Social media post: The HIEN 2 is a two seater hybrid evtol concept, CEO Gaku Minorikawa LinkedIn Post, March 2023
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