Hien Aero Technologies HIEN 6 (concept design)

HIEN 6 (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 6 passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
The HIEN 6 is a six passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft is remotely piloted, uses autopilot or is piloted by artificial intelligence (AI). The aircraft has a very modern design and has been made for short range travel for air taxi service and business use for advanced air mobility (AAM). The aircraft has panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment. 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) or more and the expected range of the aircraft is over 180 km (112 m). The maximum payload weight of the aircraft is 500 kg (1,102 lb). The aircraft has a total of eight propellers, eight electric motors and is powered by one or more gas turbine engines. As of 2024, the concept design aircraft has four dedicated propellers for forward flight and has four dedicated propellers for VTOL flight. All the propellers on the aircraft are mounted on booms. The gas turbine engine(s) is(are) predicted to have a 400 kWh electric output. The gas turbines use Jet-A1/B kerosene for fuel.

The aircraft has one high main gull-wing and in the rear of the aircraft is an H-tail. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite material for a high strength and low weight ratio. The size of the aircraft is 1,000 x 1,600 x 320 cm (~33 X ~52-1/2 X ~10-1/2 ft). The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear. It is unknown how many gas turbine engines are on this aircraft. Future models have the possibility of being manufactured and sold with an all-electric power source such as battery packs or hydrogen fuel cells.

HIEN 6 and its various air missions
The company foresees the HIEN 6 to be used for short-distance on-demand air taxi service and for corporate business use for advanced air mobility (AAM).

Future outlook
The company intends to also manufacture and sell a HIEN 6 that uses an all-electric VTOL power source such as battery packs or uses hydrogen fuel cells. The company is planning to provide demonstration flights of the HEIN 2 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 (that company plans to also future models with an all-electric power source)
• Pilot: Remote, autopilot, autonomous piloting or artificial intelligence (AI) piloting
• Capacity: 6 passengers and luggage
• Maximum cruise speed: ~180 km/h or more (112 mph or more)
• Range: Over 180 km (112 m)
• Maximum payload weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
• Propellers: 8 propellers (4 propellers for forward flight mounted on booms, 4 propellers for VTOL flight mounted on booms)
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Gas turbine(s) using kerosene (Jet-A1/B). It is unknown how many gas turbine engines are on this aircraft. Future models have the possibility of being designed and sold with an all-electric power source, such as battery packs or hydrogen fuel cells.)
• Power supply capacity: 400 kWh
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Size: 1,000 x 1,600 x 320 cm (~33 X ~52-1/2 X ~10-1/2 ft)
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: 1 high main gull-wing
• Tail: 1 H-tail
• 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 2 (concept design)
• Hien Aero Technologies HIEN X (concept design)
• Hien Aero Technologies HIEN Dr-One (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Initial

Resources:

• Hien Aero Technologies website
• Hien Aero Technologies Facebook
• Hien Aero Technologies Twitter
• Hien Aero Technologies YouTube Channel
• Hien Aero Technologies Instagram
• Video: HIEN Hybrid eVTOL Story 1, HIEN Aero Technologies, July 10, 2023
• Video: HIEN Promotion Part 5, HIEN Aero Technologies, Sept. 11, 2023
• Video: HIEN Aero Technologies 2023, HIEN Aero Technologies, Sept. 13, 2023