Transcend Air V-421 (concept design)
V-421 (concept design)
Transcend Air Corporation
Carlisle, Massachusetts, USA
www.transcend.aero
The Transcend Air Corporation was founded in 2017 to design and manufacture a tilt-wing hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) for efficient and low cost city to city advanced air mobility (AAM) travel for the VIP traveler. As the aircraft can takeoff and land on any landing pad, airport tarmac, parking lot or grassy area, the aircraft will whisk the traveler to the destination faster than traditional airport-to-airport flying. Their aircraft can also fly its passengers to their destinations faster than a helicopter, according to the company.
The U.S. Air Force has supported Transcend Air's work with four research and development contracts a United States Air Force AFWERX program. The AFWERX program started in June 2021. The "AF" stands for U. S. Air Force and "WERX" is shorthand for work project. The company made it through three down-select stages to become one of five final contenders for the Pentagon’s High-Speed VTOL Challenge (HSVTOL Challenge). AFWERX's goal is finding aircraft that have jet-like speed, in-flight transition between hover and cruise, increased range and endurance, in-flight refueling capability, flexible payload and more.
The company advocates for an almost full conventional power train for their aircraft and plans to use turbine engines to power the two main tractor propellers. The aircraft is still a hybrid-electric aircraft as there are four small electric VTOL propellers in the rear of the fuselage used primarily to keep the aircraft stable during VTOL flight in any windy condition.
V-421 long-range hybrid-electric VTOL passenger and cargo military concept design aircraft
The V-421 long-range is a hybrid-electric VTOL passenger and cargo military concept design aircraft. The aircraft holds one pilot, is autonomous capable and has a capacity to hold seven people. Each person can have a predicted maximum weight of 365 lb (166 kg). The aircraft can be used for passengers, cargo or both. The aircraft has one min high tilt-wing with two turbine powered propellers and has four electric powered VTOL-only in the middle of the rear of the H-tail. The main propellers are powered by two GE turboshaft engines CT7-8 with 2,700 shp each.
The aircraft has an anticipated of cruise speed of 485 mph (301 km/h), a planned range of 2,193 m (3,529 km) and has an expected maximum operating altitude of 30,000 ft (9,144 m). The fuselage is made of carbon fiber composite to make the superstructure as strong and light as possible. The aircraft as a projected empty weight of 7,500 lb (3,402 kg), a maximum payload of 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) and a maximum takeoff weight of 11,000 lb (4,990 kg). The cabin has a volume of 470 cubic feet. In an unlikely event of an emergency, there is a whole aircraft parachute.
V-521 long-range hybrid-electric VTOL passenger and cargo military concept design aircraft
The V-521 is another military model the company is offering that has the same airframe as the V-421 military aircraft but will have an turbine engine, the GE T901 engine. The GE T901 turboshaft engine is same turbine engine used for the U.S. Army's Black Hawk and Apache helicopters.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Military hybrid-electric passenger and cargo VTOL concept design aircraft
- Piloting: 1 pilot, autonomous capable
- Capacity: 7 people, maximum 365 lb (166 kg) each person
- Cruise speed: 485 mph (301 km/h)
- Range: 2,193 m (3,529 km)
- Maximum operating altitude: 30,000 ft (9,144 m)
- Empty weight: 7,500 lb (3,402 kg)
- Maximum payload: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
- Cabin volume: 470 cubic feet
- Propellers: 2 turbine powered propellers, 4 electric tailfan propellers
- Electric motors: 4 electric motors
- Power source: 2 GE turboshaft engines CT7-8, 2,700 shp
- Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
- Windows: The aircraft has typical military windows
- Wings: 1 high wing
- Tail: 1 H-tail
- Landing gear: Retractable wheeled landing gear
- Safety features: The aircraft can land conventionally if there is a power loss in the tractor propellers. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.
Related Aircraft:
- Transcend Air Elytron 2S Prototype 11 (experimental)
- Transcend Air V-621 (concept design)
- Transcend Air V-641 (concept design)
- Transcend Air V-653 (concept design)
- Transcend Air Vy 400 (defunct)
- Transcend Air Vy 400R (concept design)
- Transcend Air Vy 421 (concept design)
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Transcend Air Corporation website
- Transcend Air Corporation Instagram
- Transcend Air Corporation LinkedIn
- Kaman Aerospace website
- Israel Aerospace Industries website
- U.S. Air Force AFWERX program Wikipedia
- Article: Vy 400, Future Flight, date unknown
- Article: Transcend Air announces “affordable” city-to-city VTOL aircraft, Vertical Magazine, June 28, 2018
- Article: New York to Boston in 36 minutes thanks to VTOL air taxi, says Transcend Air, New Atlas, June 29, 2018
- Article: Transcend Air and Lily Helipads announce zero-emission landing spots, Vertical Magazine, May 17, 2019
- Article: Transcend Air Enters Agreement with GE Aviation as Engine Supplier for the Groundbreaking Vy 400 High Speed VTOL Aircraft, Business Wire, Aug. 10, 2021
- Article: Kaman Aerospace Group, Inc. selected by Transcend Air to build the Vy 400 High Speed VTOL Aircraft, Nasdaq, Aug. 12, 2021
- Article: Transcend’s New VTOL Just Got a Powerful Makeover, Robb Report, Sept. 30, 2021
- Article: Transcend Air Receives Market Research Investment to Advance U.S. DoD High-Speed VTOL Capabilities, EIN Presswire, Jan. 28, 2022
- Article: Transcend Air advances in AFWERX HSVTOL Concept Challenge, Vertical Magazine, Feb. 1, 2022
- Article: Marines Want VTOL Family of Systems for Future Vertical Lift, U.S. Naval Institute, Feb. 9, 2022
- Article: U.S. Air Force Funds Transcend Air for More Work on VTOL Operations, FutureFlight, June 21, 2022
- Article: Tiltwing plane company Transcend Air intends to initiate FAA certification ‘soon,’ founders say, Aerospace America, Feb. 17, 2023
- Article: Transcend Air Taps IAI North America as Defense Partner, Business Wire, May 8, 2023
- Article: Transcend Reboots Its Air Mobility Offering with Redesigned Vy 421 VTOL Aircraft, FutureFlight, Aug. 4, 2023
- Article: Transcend Switches To Larger Tiltwing VTOL, Aviation Week, Aug. 8, 2023
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