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Jetcopter VTOL Technologies Sky Commuter

Sky Commuter hybrid-electric or all-electric VTOL passenger aircraft

 

Sky Commuter
Jetcopter VTOL Technologies
Wyoming, USA
www.jet-copter.com

Founded in January 2019 by Don Skulski, who has been self-employed since 1994, Jetcopter's purpose is to provide a better aircraft for all types of missions from civilian to military. Skulski's reason for Jetcopter's multiple new concept designs is to create and manufacture a better, safer, faster, more efficient and more affordable aircraft for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and for Rural Air Mobility. The inventor has said that his aircraft are part airplane and part helicopter and are all of his designs are modular in design. Skulski is a prolific aircraft designer where we have counted at least 19 different aircraft models listed on his website as of October 2021. The company has already requested funding from investors and is continuing looking for investors.

Skulski's designs include hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft and conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL). Each of his aircraft have a flexible power source and can be outfitted with petroleum engines, fuel cells or all batteries. In 2021, the company has stated they have been developing VTOL aircraft for European military.

The Skulski suggests due to using electric motors with propellers, drone-type technology and modern/novel manufacturing materials and techniques, that the production cost for his aircraft will be twice as low as conventional aircraft made today. In addition, the inventor foresees their manufacturing production times will be two to three times shorter than today's conventional aircraft manufacturer's production times.

Several of Jetcopter VTOL Technologies's concept designs are modular. The modules include the propulsion system, the engine compartment and then the fuselage. This way, any module can be manufactured either in the same production facility or in separate production facilities and assembled each aircraft at a designated factory. When the aircraft is designed like this, this allows the customer to not only make maintenance easier but allows the customer to reconfigure the aircraft from a passenger aircraft to a cargo aircraft.

The Sky Commuter is a 5-9 passenger long-range hybrid-electric (or all electric) VTOL aircraft. The aircraft has been designed to accommodate a hybrid-electric power source (such as a piston or turbine petroleum powered engine, or fuel cells) or powered by batteries. The power source is determined by customer requirements. The aircraft can hold between 5-9 passengers, has an approximate cruise speed of 300 mph (483 km/h), has an estimated range of 600 miles (965 km) and has a flight time around one hour. The aircraft specifications are estimated and will most likely be changed in the future once subscale and full scale prototypes are made and tested.

The aircraft has a sleek executive type look yet there is a significant difference due to the design of the VTOL propellers. There are four propellers on the aircraft located on the front and back of its high main wing. Two are forward of the high wing and two are directly behind them in the rear of the high wing. Each front propeller tilts upward for VTOL flight and the real two propellers tilt downward during VTOL flight.

The aircraft can land with VTOL flight or can land (or takeoff) conventionally on a runway because the aircraft has tricycle retractable wheeled landing gear. This aircraft will be more useful for Urban Air Mobility because it can literally land at a person's lawn or driveway and fly the person directly to their destination. When using VTOL aircraft on vacations which are 600 to 1,000 miles from where you live, reducing ground travel by two times and reduce being at an airport two times, for a one-way trip. This will allow travelers to not have to wake up and extremely early hours to catch an airport flight and will provide the traveler with more vacation hours for themselves for rest and relaxation.

The company has not set a timeline for when subscale models or full scale models will be made. The company foresees their aircraft used for personal air transportation, for Urban Air Mobility, for Rural Air Mobility, for air cargo, police, fire, medevac services, for homeland security and in every branch in any military.

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric VTOL or eVTOL passenger aircraft
  • Piloting: Unknown
  • Capacity: 5-9 passengers
  • Cruise speed: 300 mph (483 km/h)
  • Range: 600 miles (965 km) or longer
  • Flight Time: 1 hour (or longer)
  • Propellers: 4 propellers
  • Electric Motors: 4 propellers
  • Power source: Batteries, hybrid-electric or fuel cells
  • Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
  • Windows: The aircraft has larger than standard windows of a conventional general aviation plane
  • Wings: 1 high wing
  • Tail: T-tail
  • Landing gear: Tricycle wheeled landing gear
  • Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. The aircraft will also have ballistic parachutes for an added level of safety.

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