International Aviation Center Begaero Technology Demonstrator

Begaero Technology Demonstrator
International Aviation Center 
Russia 
Website Unknown 

Alexander Begak, the founder of the International Aviation Center has a goal to unite everyone in the world, through aviation, and to end war and for everyone to live in peace.

Begak's background in aviation started as a parachutist at age 13 and while still in his teens, worked as stunt performer at the Kavkaz Aviation Center. He later graduated at the Kaliningrad Aviation and Space College with honors and graduated from the Moscow State Aviation Institute and the Civil Aviation Academy in St. Petersburg. Later, he became an instructor in the military as a paratrooper instructor and after onto becoming a pilot. Since then, he has organized many aviation sports events and expeditions including aviation sports events in the polar region.

The Begaero air taxi is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which has already made test flights with a sub-scale technology demonstrator. The eVTOL air taxi plans to have a maximum speed of 420 km (261 mph), a range of 400 km (249 miles), with a maximum takeoff weight estimated to be 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). The technology demonstrator has inverted propellers close to the ground level of the aircraft and a tricycle fixed skid landing gear. The two rear skids are part of inverted wing tips. The production model is expected to hold four passengers.

Begak plans on manufacturing an eVTOL cargo aircraft first and then move forward with the four seat air taxi. He estimated in 2019 the world market for Urban Air Mobility air taxis is $9 billion and hopes that Russia can capture 15% of that market. The project is estimated to be ₽3.5 billion rubles.

Instead of using downward open propellers for vertical and forward flight, the production model will most likely use multiple electrically-powered ducted fans. In 2019, the goal for Begak is to have a production model flying by 2025.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger/cargo scalable aircraft
• Piloting: Unknown
• Capacity: 4 passengers
• Maximum cruise speed: 420 km/h (261 mph)
• Maximum range: 400 km (249 miles)
• Maximum weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Wings: Has a short low wing which the downward wingtip is also is used as part of the landing gear
• Landing gear: Tricycle skid type 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/propellers fail, the other working motors/propellers can safely land the aircraft.

Resources:

• Alexander Begak Facebook
• Video: First tests of the Begaero Aerotaxi vertical take-off booth, BEGAK TV, Aug. 22, 2019
• Article: Russian Begaero air taxi will be shown for the first time at the MAKS-2019 air show, TASS, Aug. 23, 2019