Napoleon Aero VTOL

Napoleon Aero VTOL
Napoleon Aero
Russia

The four-seater Napoleon Aero VTOL uses 46 electric fans embedded in the wing and canard, with a single electric motor powering a thrusting propeller in the rear. Six fans are embedded in the canard and 20 on each side of the wing. According to company, the cost of operating an electric VTOL aircraft with separate propulsion systems for lift and cruise "is significantly lower than a convertiplane or a helicopter. Moving 1 kg of cargo 1 km with the new device will be about 2.5 times cheaper than a helicopter," the company said to "Izvestia" in Dec. 2017.

The company says that the four-seater would be able to fly a distance of 100 km on a single charge. The company says that the aircraft is targeted as an air taxi, and could also deliver people and cargo to unprepared sites.

"If resources are available, we will be ready in three years to present the car for certification tests. A little more than two years will be required for certification by [Russian] Interstate Aviation Committee," the company told "Izvestia".

Napoleon Aero VTOL characteristics (updated December 2017):

Resources:

• Article with graphics: In Russia, a unique electric plane with vertical take-off, Hi-Tech@Mai.ru, December 1, 2017
• Article with video: Taxi with vertical take-off, Izvestia, December 1, 2017