• +1-703-684-6777
  • See footer

Malloy Aeronautics T650

Malloy Aeronautics T650 heavy-lift air cargo drone

 

T650
Malloy Aeronautics Ltd
Berkshire, United Kingdom
www.malloyaeronautics.com

In 2012, Chris Malloy, engineer and helicopter pilot, founded Malloy Aeronautics and is based near London, England. The company is in the business of making electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo autonomous aircraft for private, commercial, government and military use. All of Malloy Aeronautics aircraft are built to military standards allowing private, commercial, government and military clients have the same quality vehicle for their logistics needs. SURVICE Engineering is the reseller of their drones in the United States.

For some history, it was in 2006 that Chris Malloy designed and tested his aircraft, a hoverbike, called Hoverbike P1. The Hoverbike P1 had a motorcycle styled seating arrangement, handle bars, two propellers, was powered with an internal combustion engine and used mechanical gears to rotate the two propellers. The Hoverbike P1's designed was inspired by the Chinook helicopter. Malloy's next prototype was a one passenger eVTOL aircraft called the Hoverbike P2 with four propellers and was all electric. Both of these aircraft were prototypes and are no longer in use.

It has been said by the military that the most important part of military operations is logistics: The resupplying of food and water, parts, equipment, fuel, ammunition to soldiers and anything else they need. The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) compares eVTOL cargo drones to an "Amazon on the battlefield" and knows that transporting supplies during wartime is dangerous work and is working to reduce the risk of danger to logistics personnel and to reduce the amount of time transporting cargo to the battlefield. With an autonomous eVTOL cargo drone, the US Army foresees with a single request, that soldiers could have needed supplies flown in by air during the day or night, in all weather conditions and no logistics personnel would be harmed by enemy fire.

Malloy Aeronautics BAE Systems T-650 cargo drone technical overview

Malloy Aeronautics BAE Systems T-650 cargo drone technical overview

The US Army recognizes the limitations of current battery technology and knows in the future that batteries will hold more energy which will increase the payload weight, speed and range of eVTOL cargo drones. In addition, the US Army's long term goal is to develop wireless recharging so that eVTOL aircraft can be charged while flying to their destination.

T650/TRV650 autonomous heavy-lift eVTOL air cargo drone
The T650 is an autonomous heavy-lift eVTOL air cargo drone capable of carrying capable of delivering food, water, goods, medical supplies, clothing, parts, equipment, fuel, weapons, ammunition and almost anything that troops would need on the battlefield. TRV means Tactical Resupply Vehicle. The aircraft has four sets of stacked propellers, for a total of eight propellers, which are connected on 45 degree angle struts located on each corner of the aircraft. The drone has a. maximum speed 140 km/h (87 mph). The maximum range with no payload is 80 km (50 m). The maximum range with a maximum payload is 30 km (19 miles). The maximum payload of the T650 is 300 kg (660 lb).

The drone has removable batteries which are easily lifted out and replaced with charged batteries by maintenance crew so there is very little downtime between flights. The company is using a large battery with the highest density in its class for its power source. The arms for the propellers are will also be removable to reduce the size of the drone which makes it easier for ground or air transportation. To increase safety, the drone has been made with redundant avionics, drives and the battery system. The aircraft lands on the bottom of its fuselage.

The company foresees their drones being used for logistical and resupply for private, commercial for rural and urban areas and for a variety of military and security applications. The drone can also be used to carry patients from a scene of an accident or disaster to a hospital. In addition, the T650 could be used to airlift soldiers out of dangerous areas.

The company foresees the drone used for the following specific missions:

  • Automated logistics and resupply
  • Military casualty evacuation
  • Anti-submarine warfare by carrying and dropping an advanced lightweight torpedo called the Sting Ray
  • Maritime Search and Rescue
  • Surveillance and Monitoring
  • Maritime mine countermeasures by carrying and dropping an expendable mine neutralizer called the Archerfish
  • Close air support

The drone will be found very useful as it has all-weather capability allowing normal air cargo and emergency deliveries to take place during any time of the day for both non-military and military use. Malloy Aeronautics is continuing to design and build eVTOL air cargo aircraft for private, commercial and military use.

Artist depiction of two T-650 eVTOL drones flying in formation

 

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: eVTOL heavy-lift air cargo drone
  • Piloting: Autonomous
  • Capacity: Cargo only
  • Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
  • Maximum range with no payload: 80 km (50 m)
  • Maximum range with maximum payload: 30 km (19 miles)
  • Maximum payload: 300 kg (660 lb)
  • Propellers: 8 propellers
  • Electric Motors: 8 electric motors
  • Power source: Removable batteries for quick turnarounds
  • Landing gear: Lands on the bottom of its fuselage
  • 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.

Related Aircraft:

Company Insights:

Resources: