Hover Formula 2

Formula 2
Hover
Moscow, Central Federal District, Russia
www.hoversurf.com

Hover was founded in Moscow, Russia, in January 2014 by inventor, tech entrepreneur and businessman Alexander Atamanov. Atamanov holds bachelor’s degrees in engineering and law as well as a masters degree in the management of innovation processes. He has founded and sold several companies before founding Hover and holds numerous patents relating to the various products and services that he has successfully brought to the marketplace. Hoversurf was the company's original name.

It has been reported that some of the investors in the company include Qiwi, the Starta Ventures, Ismail Akhmetov, Nikolai Belykh, Evgeny Medvednikov, Maxim Korobov and possibly other Russian investors. In 2018, the company moved its Moscow headquarters to Burlingame, California but in 2019, Hover moved their headquarters back to Moscow.

Hover revealed on Facebook, on May 8, 2019, they have redesigned their five passenger Formula electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) into a smaller two passenger eVTOL with the same name, Formula. A noticeable difference in this new design are larger but fewer electric ducted fans (EDFs) for vertical lift and two larger EDFs mounted on either side of the aircraft for forward flight. As of now, there is no wing for this redesigned aircraft with the exception of a possible longer flying version for Urban Air Mobility.

The Formula 2 eVTOL aircraft is a two passenger aircraft, has a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), a maximum range of 300 km (186 miles), maximum flight time is estimated at 1 hour, 12 minutes, has 16 EDFs for VTOL flight, has two EDFs for forward flight and a canopy providing excellent views from the cockpit. It looks like the aircraft lands on the frame of the aircraft holding the electric ducted fans.

Hover cites the advantages of their new eVTOL aircraft as "Convenience, Safety and Speed." The aircraft will have the ability to land in a normal parking space and thus postulating their aircraft will have an earlier entry into the market place than those aircraft requiring landing and take-off infrastructure which is currently unavailable.

Their patented Venturi engine allows them to eliminate typical airplane propellers and create a quiet aircraft, its engines featuring a noise-canceling effect. The aircraft is not a helicopter nor an airplane but combines the best of both designs. They've stated their aircraft includes the most advanced ballistic parachute for emergency situations created by BRS Aerospace, for emergency situations.

Formula is just the beginning in a new line of vehicles and services Hover will break into. ATaaS - Air Transportation as a Service to the public. Flying Taxis are here and we will make our mark once again. The Venturi Engine has allowed us to jump years ahead, moving away from open propellers. Our compact and efficient new engine gives us the ability to create compact and safe vehicles for the future of transportation. No helipads, no runways, just your average parking spot. —Hover

They have designed this aircraft to be as uncomplicated as possible by having stationary fans for lift and forward flight. Emphasizing that other aircraft using fans which tilt for both lift and forward flight could cause needless mechanical problems in the long range and could potentially create a safety hazard for its passengers and crew on the ground. By having stationary fans, it greatly reduces future potential mechanical problems creating a much safer aircraft.

It has been reported that the Formula models might be designated based on the passenger capacity of the aircraft, such as Formula 2, Formula 4 and Formula 5, for a two, four and five passenger aircraft. They even have a solution for a long distance drone taxi for suburban to city travel, it has a large wing. In addition to the Formula models, Hover is also engaged in the development of the Drone Taxi R-1, the Scorpion and the five passenger Formula eVTOL aircraft.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger aircraft
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Range: 300 km (186 m)
• Maximum flight time: 1 hour, 12 minutes
• Propellers: 18 (16 for VTOL flight, 2 for forward flight)
• Electric Motors: 18 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Canopy over cockpit
• Landing gear: Unknown
• 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:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• MarketWatch
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Hover website
• Hover YouTube Channel
• Video: Flying car scale model first test flight using Venturi EDF, Hoversurf, June 4, 2018
• Article: FAA Confirms Hoversurf S3 is Ultralight, Electric VTOL News, Oct. 15, 2018
• Video: UAM VLOG by Alex Atamanov - EPISODE 1, Hoversurf, Feb. 12, 2019
• Video: UAM VLOG by Alex Atamanov - EPISODE 2, Hoversurf, Feb. 17, 2019
• Video: UAM VLOG by Alex Atamanov - EPISODE 3, Hoversurf, Feb. 24, 2019
• Article: Drone Taxi, Hoversurf, Mar. 3, 2019
• Video: UAM VLOG by Alex Atamanov - EPISODE 4, Hoversurf, Mar. 4, 2019
• Article: 10 eVTOL aircraft to look out for, CNN, Mar. 21, 2019
• Article: eVTOL Captures the Attention of CES Vertiflite, March/April 2019
• Video: Venturi Engine 3D, Hoversurf, May 19, 2019
• Article: After The Hoversurf Bike Comes The EVTOL Hoversurf Formula, Clean Technica, Aug. 18, 2019
• Article: Hoversurf’s first eVTOL air taxi concept revealed, Revolution, Aug, 21, 2019
• Article: Hoversurf at Dubai Airshow 2019, Electric VTOL News, Nov. 24, 2019
• Article: Drone Ambulance with Artificial Intelligence and 5G, Hoversurf, Apr. 7, 2020