MEVA Aerospace MEVA X-1 (concept design)

(Image credit: MEVA Aerospace)

MEVA X-1 (concept design)
MEVA Aerospace sp z o.o.
Lublin, Poland
www.meva.aero

MEVA Aerospace was founded in Lublin, Poland, in 2023 by four co-founders: Paweł Adamczuk, Mikołaj Gruszewski, Daniel Płatek, and Tomasz Wojdała, with the goal of developing the first Polish passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for Innovative Air Mobility (IAM). (In the USA, its called Advanced Air Mobility or AAM.) The company's journey started by dividing the project into two phases: 1) The technology demonstrator phase which has already been completed and 2) The production aircraft phase which the company is currently beginning (as of 2024). Also in 2024, the MEVA Aerospace's team consists of 17 professionals and is constantly evolving.

To further the company's research and development efforts, they have entered into a strategic partnership with the Polish Air Force University. This collaboration provides the company with access to advanced research facilities, including state-of-the-art laboratories, wind tunnels and simulation equipment. Additionally, working with leading experts and researchers at the University enhances the company's capabilities and accelerates their progress.

MEVA X-1 passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft
The MEVA X-1 is a full-scale two passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft is made for one pilot, one passenger, has a very modern and sleek design, has windows allowing forward, left, right and upward visibility, and is powered fully by batteries. Illustrations of the technology demonstrator are on this web page.

The MEVA X-1 has a predicted maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and a range greater than 100 km (>60 m). The calculated maximum takeoff weight is 1,400 kg (3,086 lb). There are eight VTOL-only stacked propellers, two electric ducted fans (EDFs) for forward flight, has 10 electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The concept design aircraft would be made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength and low weight ratio. The aircraft has one high main gull wing, one inverted V-tail, has two swing-up doors (or scissor doors) and has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

Safety features include Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), meaning having multiple propellers, electric ducted fans, multiple electric motors and multiple batteries. If any of these components stop working, the other propellers and components will still be able to land the aircraft safely. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

The company has no plans to build a full-scale prototype of the MEVA X-1. The primary goal of designing the X-1 was to serve as a platform for testing various engineering solutions and design ideas, as well as to showcase the company's capabilities.

Subscale Prototype
MEVA Aerospace has already assembled four subscale X-1 prototypes (1:5 scale) and has had unthethered outdoor test flights and wind tunnel testing. The wingspan of the prototype is approximately 2.4 meters (6 ft, 8.3 in). The company conducted flight tests to confirm some of the previously calculated characteristics.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Range: >100 km (>60 m)
• Empty weight: Unknown
• Maximum takeoff weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
• Propellers: 8 propellers (E-props) and are stacked propellers, 2 electric ducted fans (EDFs) (VF-570
• Electric motors: 10 electric motors (REB 60)
• Power source: Molicel battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left, right an top visibility for spectacular views. (The windows could also qualify as a canopy over the cockpit window.)
• Doors: 2 scissor doors (or swing-up doors)
• Wings: 1 high main gull wing with winglets
• Tail: 1 inverted V-tail
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse, which increases safety by reducing complexity. The gull wing and inverted V-tail do have flaps or ailerons or both.

Related Aircraft:

• MEVA Aerospace MEVA X-2 (production aircraft)

Resources:

• MEVA Aerospace website