Moller International Skycar® M900 (concept design)

Skycar® M900 (concept design)
Moller International / Freedom Motors
Dixon, California, USA
www.moller.com
www.freedom-motors.com

Moller International was founded in 1983 as a spin-off of Moller Corporation to continue to design, develop and manufacture conventional and hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) passenger and cargo aircraft. Moller's aircraft being manufactured for use in the nascent advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. The company is designing aircraft that are safe, efficient, affordable, easy-to-use as automobiles, low noise, low emissions, low fuel usage, low purchase price, low operating cost and can use existing transportation networks. The company is headquartered in Dixon, California, USA.

The company has developed and integrated novel technologies required for small, powered-lift VTOL aircraft. These include electronic stabilization and control systems, efficient ducted fan designs, thrust vectoring mechanisms and aerodynamically stable composite airframe structures. The single most significant spin-off technology is the Rotapower engine, a Wankel rotary engine. This engine is now produced and marketed by Freedom Motors.

Historically, the company has primarily focused on using petroleum fueled engines for their power source of their aircraft designs and prototypes. Moller International confirmed in June 2023, they are now designing all their aircraft as hybrid-electric VTOL passenger and cargo aircraft. At the same time, it was also confirmed with Moller that any of their past and current aircraft can be designed and manufactured as hybrid-electric VTOL or all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Skycar® M900 clean-sheet hybrid-electric or all-electric VTOL nine passenger concept design aircraft
The M900® is a clean-sheet hybrid-electric or all-electric VTOL nine passenger concept design aircraft made for advanced air mobility. Moller is in favor of hybrid-electric aircraft for advanced air mobility due to the practicality of providing a longer range and ability to carry a heavier payload. The aircraft holds one pilot and eight passengers. The nine in the 900 model number is the number of total people the aircraft can hold. The aircraft can be piloted autonomously in the future once the technology is perfected and is affordable.

The cruise speed at sea level and at 65% power is expected to be 212 mph (342 km/h). The maximum speed at sea level is foreseen to be 254 mph (408 km/h). The cruise speed at its operational altitude of 25,000 ft is predicted to be (7,620 m) is 275 mph (442 km/h). The empty weight of the aircraft is 5,300 lb (2,404 kg), the maximum payload is estimated to be 2,200 lb (998 kg) and the maximum takeoff weight is approximately 7,500 lb (3,402 kg). The range of the aircraft at an economic cruise speed is projected at 1,000 miles (1,609 km).

The aircraft has four tilting ducted fan housings and each ducted fan housing holding two propellers. There are a total of eight electric motors powering the propellers. The four ducted fan housings are at the end of tandem wings, the wings increasing the flight range of the aircraft. While the aircraft has been initially designed with a hybrid-electric power source, the company has stated the aircraft can have an all-electric power source if the customer specifies this type of requirement.

The pilot cockpit has a large window, similar to a helicopter's front window. The passenger cabin has large windows for better views with a solid roof above the cabin. There is one rear vertical stabilizer on the aircraft. The aircraft has retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric or all-electric VTOL passenger concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot (autonomous piloting when the technology becomes available)
• Capacity: 8 passengers
• Cruise speed (sea level at 65% power): 212 mph (342 km/h)
• Cruise speed (25,000 ft/7,620 m): 275 mph (442 km/h)
• Maximum speed (sea level): 254 mph (408 km/h)
• Operational altitude: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
• Range (economic cruise): 1,000 miles (1,609 km)
• Empty weight: 5,300 lb (2,404 kg)
• Maximum payload: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 7,500 lb (3,402 kg)
• Propellers: 8 propellers. There are 4 tilting ducted housings holding 2 propellers each.
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Hybrid-electric or all-electric power source
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: A large window for the pilot (similar to a helicopter's front windshield) and large windows for the passengers with a solid roof above the cabin
• Wings: Tandem wings
• Tail: 1 vertical stabilizer
• Landing gear: Retractable tricycle wheeled 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.

Related Aircraft:

• Moller International Aerobot® (concept design)
• Moller International Autovolantor (concept design)
• Moller International Firefly (concept design)
• Moller International Neuera 200 (prototype)
• Moller International Skycar® 100 (prototype)
• Moller International Skycar® 200  (concept design)
• Moller International Skycar® 400  (prototype)
• Moller International Skycar® 600 LAMV (concept design)
• Moller International Skycar® M200 (prototype)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Moller International website
• Freedom Motors website
• Moller International Facebook
• Moller International Twitter
• Moller International YouTube Channel
• Moller International LinkedIn
• Article: Flying cars no longer a fantasy thanks to trailblazing designers and engineers, SCMP, May 5, 2017