Malloy Aeronautics Hoverbike (defunct)

Hoverbike (defunct)
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 advanced air mobility (AAM) 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.

Hoverbike P1
In 2006, Malloy created, designed and tested his Hoverbike P1 VTOL one passenger aircraft. The Hoverbike P1 had a motorcycle styled open cockpit seating arrangement and handle bars. The cruise speed was148 km/h (92 mph) and had an estimated maximum speed of 278 km/h (173 mph). The expected range for the hoverbike was 148 km (92 miles) and if more fuel tanks are added, the predicted range could be doubled. The projected maximum altitude of the P1 was 3,048 meters (10,000 feet).

The P1 used two propellers for propulsion and were located at the front and rear of the aircraft. The hoverbike was powered by a 1 BMW 1170 cc 4-stroke 80 kW internal combustion engine using mechanical gears to power both two propellers. The empty weight (without fuel) was 105 kg (231 lb), had a maximum payload of 130 kg (286 lb) and had a maximum takeoff weight of 270 kg (595 lb).

The Hoverbike P1 was originally intended to be an airborne workhorse. Malloy foresaw his hoverbike being used for aerial cattle mustering, aerial filming, aerial surveying, emergency service, search and rescue (SAR), personal use, power line inspection and military use. Malloy expected the Hoverbike P1 to sell for $40,000.00 (USD) each. The Hoverbike P1's designed was inspired by the Chinook helicopter. The Hoverbike P1 is now defunct.

The founding of Malloy Aeronautics and Kickstarter
Several years later in 2012, Malloy then founded Malloy Aeronautics which is based near London, England. In the summer of 2014, the company used the fundraising Kickstarter website seeking a goal of £30,000.00 GBP ($47,133.00 USD). However, the newly formed start-up got more money than their goal and raised a total of £64,000.00 GBP ($100,550.40 USD).

Hoverbike P2
In 2014, Malloy designed, manufactured and tested a full size eVTOL one passenger open cockpit quadcopter aircraft named the Hoverbike P2. This hoverbike is planned to have autopilot capability, have a "home" button and is flown closer to the ground than a helicopter. The hoverbike is safer and is less expensive to operate than a helicopter. The maximum speed of the aircraft is 96 km/h (60 mph), has a target range of 201 km (125 miles) and an expected flight time of 30 minutes. The maximum payload of the aircraft is 130 kg (286 lb) and has a maximum altitude of 3,044 meters (9,988 feet).

The aircraft has four propellers, four electric motors and is powered by batteries. The move from a dual propellers to a quadcopter was due to achieve better stability and better flight performance. The hoverbike has two forward and two aft vertical propellers and each pair of propellers are partially overlapped which makes the aircraft more narrow and ultimately makes the superstructure stronger. The airframe is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, UV-stabilized polycarbonate and carbon sheet. Having a narrow airframe keeps the width of the aircraft as small as possible to help fly the aircraft in small urban alley ways or just above a forest pathway. The small width of the aircraft also makes it easy to land the hoverbike in a parking space and store it in a garage.

At the time, the company stated the Hoverbike P2 was a low cost practical size aircraft, lending itself to search and rescue, precision farming and cattle mustering, first-responder emergency services and cargo insertion into confined spaces. In addition, the eVTOL aircraft could also be used for ski and mountain rescue, airborne logistics and time-sensitive personnel insertion/extraction during major disasters. The Hoverbike P2 is now defunct.

Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle Hoverbike eVTOL air cargo prototype drone
In 2015, Malloy changed the Hoverbike P2 from a one passenger eVTOL aircraft to an uncrewed remote controlled air cargo prototype drone called the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) Hoverbike to be developed for the US Department of Defense. The U.S. military also specified they would like to see the Hoverbike's power source changed to be hybrid-electric to increase the payload of the aircraft. The JTARV Hoverbike would have a cruise speed of 96 km/h (60 mph), an expected range of 126-201 km (78-125 miles) and a planned flight time of 30 minutes. The intended maximum payload of the aircraft is 100-363 kg (220-800 lb). The aircraft has the same four propeller layout as the P2 and has a very similar fuselage. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. The Malloy Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) eVTOL air cargo aircraft is now defunct.

Hoverbike Drone 3 (subscale)
The third hoverbike made was a subscale collapsible remote controlled eVTOL called the Hoverbike Drone 3. Each pair of propellers has partial overlap and when not in use, the propellers can be folded over each other to further reduce the size of the aircraft fit into the a custom made container about the size a small backpack. The offset rotors also allow the protective frames to be employed as a support mounting for each propeller. It subscale hoverbike maneuvers using only varying thrust. Drone 3 is now defunct.

Contract with the U.S. Army
In support of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Malloy Aeronautics has been working collaboratively with SURVICE Engineering Company. It has a contract with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and is one of the leading concepts for the Army’s Picatinny Pallet Sustainment Aerial Mobility Vehicle (SAMV). The company has now made several remotely piloted cargo drones for military use which are now officially called a Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV).

The company also made the now defunct TRV-80 Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (or a military cargo resupply drone) which had a payload of 30 kg (66 lb). The company's current Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle is called the TRV-150 which has a maximum speed of 97 km/h (60 mph), a range of 70 km (43 miles) and has a maximum payload of 68 kg (140 lb). Malloy Aeronautics's aircraft are built to rigorous military standards and can be used for both military and civilian missions. The TRV-150 propeller booms fold into a compact position to fit into a custom made suitcase for storage or vehicle transfer. A laptop is used to send the drone autonomously to its destination with no flight training required.

In the future, Malloy Aeronautics will be focusing on only making larger capacity JTARV eVTOL aircraft for private use, commercial use and for the military.

Hoverbike P1 Specifications (defunct):

• Aircraft type: Gas powered VTOL one person prototype aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cockpit: Open cockpit with motorcycle styled seating
• Cruise speed: 148 km/h (92 mph)
• Maximum estimated speed: 278 km/h (173 mph)
• Estimated range: 148 km (92 miles), if more fuel tanks are added, the range can be doubled
• Estimated maximum altitude: 3,048 meters (10,000 feet)
• Empty weight: 105 kg (231 lb), without fuel
• Maximum payload: 130 kg (286 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight of 270 kg (595 lb)
• Propellers: 2 propellers (with mechanical linkage from the engine)
• Internal combustion engine: 1 BMW 1170 cc 4-stroke 80 kW internal combustion engine
• Fuel tank capacity: 30 l (7.92 gal)
• Airframe: Carbon fiber
• Dimensions: 3 m long X 1.3 m wide X 0.55 m high (9.8 ft x 4.3 ft x 1.8 ft)
• Landing gear: Fixed skid type landing gear
• This was the first prototype by the inventor and at the time, the range and maximum altitude for the aircraft were estimated specifications. A ballistic emergency parachute could be added to the aircraft. Or the pilot could wear their own parachute for an emergency.

Hoverbike P2 Specifications (defunct):

• Aircraft type: eVTOL hoverbike prototype aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cruise speed: 96 km/h (60 mph)
• Estimated range: 201 km (125 miles)
• Flight time: 30 minutes
• Maximum altitude: 3,044 meters (9,988 feet)
• Maximum payload: 130 kg (286 lb)
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric Motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Aircraft-grade aluminum, UV-stabilized polycarbonate and carbon sheet
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• 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.

Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) Hoverbike Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV) Hoverbike hybrid-electric VTOL military air cargo prototype drone
• Piloting: Remote controlled
• Capacity: Air cargo only
• Cruise speed: 96 km/h (60 mph)
• Estimated range: 126-201 km (78-125 miles)
• Flight time: 30 minutes
• Maximum payload: 100-363 kg (220-800 lb)
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries and eventually made into a hybrid-electric aircraft
• Fuselage: Aircraft-grade aluminum, UV-stabilized polycarbonate and carbon sheet
• Landing gear: Fixed skid 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. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Hoverbike Drone 3 Specifications (defunct):

• Aircraft type: Subscale eVTOL remote controlled light payload air cargo drone
• Capacity: Light cargo only. Can take cargo above its fuselage or below its fuselage.
• Cruise speed: 65 km/h (40 mph or 18 meters per second)
• Maximum payload: 1.5 kg (3.3 lb)
• Range: 10-20 minutes
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Landing gear: Fixed skid type landing gear

Related Aircraft:

• Malloy Aeronautics T150 (production aircraft)
• Malloy Aeronautics T400 (production aircraft)
• Malloy Aeronautics T650 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Malloy Aeronautics website
• Malloy Aeronautics Facebook
• Malloy Aeronautics Twitter
• Malloy Aeronautics YouTube Channel
• Malloy Aeronautics LinkedIn
• Survice Engineering website
• Chris Malloy Hoverbike Kickstarter web page
• Video: Hoverbike Helicopter airflow visualization smoke test, Malloy Hoverbike, Feb. 13, 2011
• Article: Australian built Hoverbike prepares for takeoff, New Atlas, June 9, 2011
• Video: Amateur inventor makes futuristic 'hoverbike', News Direct, Sept. 17, 2012
• Video: Hoverbike Kickstarter Campaign, Malloy Hoverbike, July 22, 2014
• Article: A closer look at the Malloy Aeronautics Hoverbike, New Atlas, Aug. 19, 2014
• Video: Mini hoverbike takes off in the UK, On Demand News, Aug. 22, 2014
• Article: Malloy Aeronautics is developing its Hoverbike for the US Department of Defense, New Atlas, June 15, 2015
• Video: P2 Hoverbike Test Flight, Malloy Hoverbike, June 15, 2015
• Article: The US Army is getting hoverbikes, The Verge, June 22, 2015
• Video: The U.S. Military's Future Hoverbike, Malloy Hoverbike, July 6, 2015
• Article: Army Sees Lasers, Hoverbikes and Nano Drones in Future Force, Military.com, June 3, 2016
• Video: Malloy Aeronautics Hoverbike / UAS, Malloy Hoverbike, July 11, 2016
• Article: The Army Is Definitely Still Working On A Hoverbike, Popular Science, Sept. 2, 2016
• Article: US soldiers could soon travel like stormtroopers: Military bosses reveal lastest 'hoverbike' for the battlefield, Daily Mail, Sept. 2, 2016
• Article: US Army develops new unmanned joint tactical aerial resupply vehicle, Army Technology, Sept. 13, 2016
• Article: US Army Develops New Unmanned Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV), UAS Weekly, Sept. 14, 2016
• Article: Army flies 'hoverbike' prototype, U.S. Army, Jan. 18, 2017
• Article: Army demos quadcopter resupply vehicle prototype, UPI, Jan. 19, 2017
• Article: Come watch the Army’s hoverbike prototype fly, Popular Science, Jan. 19, 2017
• Article: The Army wants to use this giant drone to resupply soldiers, The Verge, Jan. 19, 2017
• PDF document: The Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle Impact On Sustainment Operations, US Army, June 9, 2017
• Article: Joint Tactical Aerial ReSupply Vehicle, US Army, Sept. 28, 2017
• Article: Autonomous aerial resupply in the forward support company, U.S. Army, Feb. 20, 2018
• Article: The Army looks at mass recharging for drone swarms, Army Times, Nov. 9, 2020