MACA Aviation & Aerospace S11

S11
MACA Aviation & Aerospace
Aix en Provence, Région Sud, France
www.macaflight.com

The company was founded in 2020 by former fighter pilot Thierry de Boisvilliers and former Airbus executive Michael Krollak in Aix-en-Provence, France but the idea to build a hybrid-electric Formula air racer was conceived in 2018. MACA Aviation & Aerospace goal is to create safe, fast and no emissions Formula 1 hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and all-electric VTOL multicopter racing aircraft. (The overall branding of the company is to be Carcopter.)

The company foresees air racing as an exciting and challenging proposition for all racing pilots. An added plus for both pilots and spectators, is the added feature of detect and avoid technology in all their aircraft, making air races as close to 100% accident free as possible. The company also uses dynamic and cognitive safety predictive maintenance technology. (In the aviation world, MACA stands for mid-air collision avoidance.)

The futuristic S11 hybrid-electric VTOL is a racing multicopter which holds one pilot, has six electric propellers, six electric motors and the entire aircraft is powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The S11 is predicted to have a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), has semi-automatic piloting, is approximately 7 meters long (23 feet), weights approximately 1,000 lb (454 kg) and apparently lands on its stabilizers. The aircraft's design is sleek and modern, the pilot's compartment has a canopy window (just like in a fighter jet) and has two canard stabilizers at the front and rear of the aircraft. At the end of each stabilizer are small winglets.

By eliminating heavy and complicated engines, transmissions, drive shafts, exhaust systems, fluids, petroleum, gas tanks and wheels, the weight of the aircraft is at a minimum and complexity is greatly reduced. Using an all electric power source and multicopter controllers, allows the company to produce light weight, very safe, fast, highly maneuverable and exciting aircraft for Formula 1 air racing. Formula 1 car racing has a net-zero carbon goal by 2030; however, eVTOL Formula 1 air racing might beat their ground-bound vehicles to the finish line before 2030.

MACA Aviation & Aerospace sees Formula 1 air racing as an exciting and fun time for people around the world due to new eVTOL technology. The two main reasons the founders have become part of this new sport is to enjoy being among the first companies manufacturing eVTOL Formula 1 aircraft and at the same time allowing the Formula 1 air racing sport keep the Earth safe from carbon emissions.

The company foresees the first technology demonstrator flight by the end of 2021, government certification by the end of 2022 and plans on letting the races begin in 2023. Time will tell if the expected timeline for certification and racing flights will take place as foreseen by the company.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Racing hybrid-electric VTOL Formula 1 air racing aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot with semi-autonomous piloting
• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Range: Unknown
• Flight Time: Unknown
• Empty weight: 600 kg (1,322 lb)
• Maximum payload weight (for the pilot): 79 kg (175 lb)
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric Motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Hybrid-electric (hydrogen fuel cells)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Length: 7 meters (~23 feet)
• Windows: Canopy over cockpit
• Wings: Front and rear canard-type wings with winglets
• Landing gear: Lands on the bottom of the front and rear wings
• 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.

Resources:

• MACA Aviation & Aerospace website
• MACA Aviation & Aerospace Facebook
• MACA Aviation & Aerospace Twitter
• MACA Aviation & Aerospace YouTube Channel
• MACA Aviation & Aerospace Instagram
• MACA Aviation & Aerospace LinkedIn
• Article: Carcopter by MACA: First Hydrogen-Powered Flying F1 Race Car, Ubergizmo, Jan. 18, 2021
• Video: MACA CARCOPTER, First hydrogen flying Formula 1 (with pilot on board) teaser 2021, MACA Aviation & Aerospace, Jan. 2, 2021
• Video: 360 Flying H2 formula One, MACA Aviation & Aerospace, Jan. 3, 2021
• Article: Meet Carcopter, the Hydrogen-Powered Formula 1 Race Car That Literally Flies at 153 MPH, Robb Report, Jan. 13, 2021
• Article: MACA Carcopter, an impressive human-piloted H2 racing copter, InceptiveMind, Jan. 22, 2021
• Article: MACA’s Carcopter Aims to Be World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Flying F1 Car, Autoevolution, Jan, 15, 2021
• Article: How This Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Could Kickstart Zero-Carbon F1 Racing, Robb Report, Jan. 11, 2022
• Article: MACA S11 Flying Carcopter Formula Racer: Competition Is in the Air, Motor Trend, Jan. 13, 2022