Jetcopter VTOL Technologies Sky Connect

Sky Connect
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 the 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 Connect aircraft is multiple power source VTOL aircraft and has been designed to accommodate a hybrid-electric power source (such as a piston or turbine petroleum powered engine, or fuel cells) or powered using only 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 has canard wings with multiple winglets, two ducted fans and has retractable tricycle landing struts. Due to its wings and multiple ailerons, the range of this aircraft might increase depending upon the power source. The windows are larger than than conventional general aviation airplanes and are angled upward towards a thinner roof line, again that is used for conventional smaller airplanes. These larger windows allows for spectacular views and provide passengers with a better visual experience than conventional airplane windows.

In one of Jetcopter's videos, it shows the Sky Connect VTOL aircraft takeoff takes place by lifting the front of the fuselage and then the aircraft will takeoff at an angle. However, it is not apparent how the aircraft tilts backwards and the video does not show the front ducted fans tilting. It will be an interesting development to see how Jetcopter will mechanically make this aircraft takeoff and land vertically. The aircraft will have a ballastic parachute in case of an emergency.

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)
• Flight Time: 1 hour
• Propellers: 2 ducted fans
• Electric Motors: 2 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries, hybrid-electric or fuel cells
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Larger windows than conventional general aviation airplanes, which are angled upward allowing for spectacular views with a thin solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: Canard wings with multiple winglets
• Landing gear: Retractable tricycle landing struts
• 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.

Resources:

• Jetcopter VTOL Technologies website
• Jetcopter VTOL Technologies YouTube Channel
• Jetcopter VTOL Technologies Don Skulski LinkedIn
• Article: JETcopter is a VTOL That Could Land in a Parking Lot, Robb Report, Sept. 19, 2018
• Article: Jetcopter VTOL Aircraft, Aerospace Technology, Date unknown (possibly spring 2019)
• Article: Jetcopter VTOL to be Revealed at Aero 2019, Aviation Today, Mar. 26, 2019
• Video: Here's How Jetcopter Works, Jetcopter, Mar. 19, 2019
• Article: Jetcopter targets funding for innovative VTOL design, Flight Global, Sept. 10, 2019
• Video: Jetcopter production, Jetcopter, Jan. 30, 2020
• Video: Jetcopter - flying taxi, Jetcopter, Apr. 3, 2020
• Video: SkyEpress - safe, fast, affordable airplane, that won't need a runway, Jetcopter, Feb. 25, 2021
• Video: SkyExpress take off, Jetcopter, Mar. 14, 2021