ARC Aerosystems Starling Cargo (concept design)

Starling Cargo (concept design)
ARC Aerosystems
Cranfield, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
www.arcaerosystems.com

Founded in 2017, ARC Aerosystems (formerly Samad Aerospace) is a technology start-up company set out to design and manufacture safe, eco-friendly, scalable, luxury electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) and for air cargo. Since its founding, the company has generated over 10,000 pages of technical reports as a result of more than 100,000 engineering work hours.The company is based in the United Kingdom and is financed by venture capital and is looking for additional funding. (All images: ARC Aerosystems)

The company has designed multiple models of eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft to help shape the future with eco-friendly door-to-door urban air transportation. The ultimate goal of the aircraft is to give back time to the air traveler compared to lengthy time it takes today to fly with conventional air travel.

As of 2023, ARC Aerosystems has acquired the following patent and design rights:

• Utility: Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) propulsion system on blended wing body (BWB) passenger aircraft (European Patent Corporation Treaty).
• Design: Vehicle configuration of two-in-one air-and-ground vehicle unit (United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office).
• Utility: Power management (battery packs) on two-in-one air-and-ground vehicle unit (United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office).

During the 15th Electric Aircraft Symposium held in July 2021, the Starling Cargo aircraft was announced and briefly detailed by Dr. Seyed Mohseni, CEO of ARC Aerosystems.
 
Starling Cargo All Electric Flight Specifications:

• Cruise speed (fully electric): 153 km/h (95 mph)
• Maximum range (fully electric): 217 km (135 miles)
• Maximum altitude (fully electric): 3,000 m (9,843 feet)
• Maximum payload (fully electric): 60 kg (132 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight (fully electric): 600 kg (1,323 lb)

Starling Cargo Hybrid-Electric Flight Specification:

• Cruise speed (hybrid-electric): 201 km/h (125 mph)
• Maximum range (hybrid-electric: 644 km (400 miles)
• Maximum altitude (hybrid-electric): 3,000 m (9,843 feet)
• Maximum payload (hybrid-electric): 100 kg (220 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight (hybrid-electric): 920 kg (2,028 lb)

The Starling Cargo is an eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL air cargo concept design aircraft that is remotely-controlled with autopilot capability and the all-electric model has a maximum payload 60 kg (132 lb) and the hybrid-electric model has a maximum payload 100 kg (220 lb). The electric version has a cruise speed 153 km/h (95 mph) and the hybrid-electric cruise speed 201 km/h (125 mph).

ARC Aerosystems plans to market the Starling Cargo aircraft for urban air cargo, critical air cargo for humanitarian aid, the oil and gas industries, the mining industry, rural areas, underdeveloped regions, disaster relief, the medical industry and government use.

The company has built and tested multiple prototypes of its eVTOL cargo aircraft and as of 2021 was taking pre-orders for the aircraft. ARC Aerosystems has also announced in 2021 they have begun the certification process for the aircraft.

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement with Aerosud Aviation (based in South Africa) for the development and manufacturing of the Starling Cargo aircraft. The company planned to start serial production in 2022. As of January 2023, there is no mention of this aircraft on the company's website.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL cargo aircraft
• Piloting: Remotely piloted with autopilot capability
• Capacity: Cargo only
• Cruise speed (fully electric): 153 km/h (95 mph)
• Maximum range (fully electric): 217 km (135 miles)
• Maximum altitude (fully electric): 3,000 m (9,843 feet)
• Maximum payload (fully electric): 60 kg (132 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight (fully electric): 600 kg (1,323 lb)
• Cruise speed (hybrid-electric): 201 km/h (125 mph)
• Maximum range (hybrid-electric: 644 km (400 miles)
• Maximum altitude (hybrid-electric): 3,000 m (9,843 feet)
• Maximum payload (hybrid-electric): 100 kg (220 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight (hybrid-electric): 920 kg (2,028 lb)
• Propellers: 5 propellers. 4 ducted fans (2 stationary VTOL ducted fans, 2 vectored thrust ducted fans) and 1 pusher propeller.
• Electric Motors: 5 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Wings: 1 main high wing
• Tail: Large T-tail
• Landing gear: Retractable 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.

Related Aircraft:

• ARC Aerosystems C-150 (production model)
• ARC Aerosystems C-600 (production model)
• ARC Aerosystems e-Starling Jet (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems HUMA (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems Linx P3
• ARC Aerosystems Linx P9
• ARC Aerosystems Q-Starling (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems Starling Cargo S5M (demonstrator)
• ARC Aerosystems Starling Jet (concept design)
• ARC Aerosystems UAV Starling (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook
• Tracxn

Resources:

• ARC Aerosystems website
• ARC Aerosystems Facebook
• ARC Aerosystems Twitter
• ARC Aerosystems YouTube Channel
• ARC Aerosystems Instagram
• ARC Aerosystems LinkedIn
• Article: Samad Aerospace Intros VTOL Business Aircraft Concept, AIN Online, Feb. 5, 2018
• Article: VTOL Hopeful Makes EBACE Debut, AIN Online, May 30, 2018
• Article: Samad Aerospace targets passenger flight with electric e-Starling, Aerospace America, July 17, 2018
• Video: Samad Aerospace's half scaled e-Starling CTOL test, ARC Aerosystems, Nov. 30, 2020
• Article: Samad Aerospace’ Starling Cargo drone begins certification, Cargo Airports & Airline Services, Sept. 8, 2021
• Article: Samad makes progress with eVTOL flight tests and a new cargo drone, New Atlas, Sept. 8, 2021
• Article: SAMAD Aerospace CEO sits in The First Experimental Flight Test of eStarling Demonstrator, UK-based company has successfully completed the first test flight of its fully electric Starling aircraft, Aviation Pros, Sept. 21, 2021
• Article: Samad Aerospace signs MOU with Aerosud Aviation, Partnership will focus on the electric Starling Cargo aircraft, Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, Nov. 24, 2021