Kovacs Racer II
Racer II
Kovacs
Budapest, Hungary
www.behance.net/roobi
Robert Kovacs is an industrial, automotive and aeronautical designer based in Hungary. He is a prolific designer making futuristic concept consumer products, automobiles, motorcycles and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. His online portfolio features the eVTOL multicopter prototype, LIFT.
Racer II is a futuristic concept design Urban Air Mobility (UAM) motorcycle-styled hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) one passenger aircraft. The design of the craft suggests that it was intended for high speed travel. When battery technology develops to have a higher high energy density, the craft would most likely be converted into an eVTOL aircraft as the cost of using electric power is half that of fuel. Saving half the cost of energy to fly an aircraft would be worth the cost of converting any hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft into an eVTOL aircraft.
The pilot of the craft sits in an open cockpit protected by a small windscreen. Motorcycle-styled handle bars are used to control the direction of the aircraft. There are four ducted fans that are quite large which would be needed to develop the thrust for high performance racing aircraft. This aircraft has an open fuselage in the rear revealing what is most likely a gasoline powered engine to create electricity for the electric ducted fans.
It also looks like there is one vertical stabilizer for yaw control and a tail dragger type device which could have three purposes: vertical stabilization, cushioning in the case that the craft bottoms out in the rear, or use as one of the tricycle landing legs for the aircraft. There is also what looks like forward flaps or possibly ailerons in front of the rear ducted fans, apparently placed for stability during tight curves or making fast adjustments during flight.
Kovacs has not provided an estimated cruising speed or flight range for the Racer II hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. He also has yet to provide any information on how the aircraft lands. From looking at the drawing, it looks like Racer II had retractable landing legs. Installing retractable legs would provide a more aerodynamic body during flight, keep weight down to a minimum and allow the pilot to easily land the aircraft where they wanted due to its ability to takeoff and land vertically.
If this aircraft came into production and was aerodynamically sound, it would probably be a favorite for young racing enthusiasts and for those who want to travel in any urban environment in a sporty VTOL aircraft.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft and a possible future eVTOL aircraft
- Piloting: 1 pilot
- Capacity: Approximately 113 kg (250 lbs)
- Cockpit: Open cockpit
- Cruising speed: Unknown
- Range: Unknown
- Ducted fans: 4
- Electric Motors: 4
- Landing gear: Unknown; however, most likely retractable landing legs
- 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.
Resources:
Recent Pages
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