Trek Aerospace SoloTrek XFV (prototype)
(Photo credit: Trek Aerospace)
SoloTrek XFV (prototype)
Trek Aerospace, Inc.
Folsom, California, USA
www.trekaero.com
Trek Aerospace, Inc. is a small engineering company based in Folsom, California, USA. Founded on March 18, 1996 as “Millennium Jet, Inc.”, the company changed their name to Trek Aerospace on July 3, 2002 because people thought that the company was building jets. The company is dedicated to understanding and improving shrouded propeller performance and efficiency. In the process, they developed their own proprietary CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software, TASPA (Trek Aerospace Shrouded Propeller Analysis).
The company has stated all of their aircraft designs are very flexible when it comes to scalability, electric motors used, propeller types and the type of power source used. That is, all previous conventionally powered aircraft the company has created can be converted to eVTOL aircraft and can be updated with the latest in avionics, electronics, propellers and electric (all batteries or hybrid-electric) power sources. All of the company's aircraft have been designed for advanced air mobility (AAM).
The company has designed and made multiple vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft including its exoskeleton backpack "helicopters" using shrouded propellers in the airframe design. Some articles refer to the exoskeleton backpack helicopter as a jetpack, even though there are no jet engines involved in the backpack aircraft. The company has also designed and made watercraft. Trek Aerospace also assists and teams with other companies, large and small, in the design, fabrication, and licensing of projects involving shrouded propellers and/or autonomous control systems. For example, Trek Aerospace built XTI Aircraft Company's TriFan subscale Proof of Concept aircraft.
Trek Aerospace Shrouded Propeller Analysis
Testing at NASA and university wind tunnels has validated the accuracy Trek Aerospace Shrouded Propeller Analysis (TASPA). Flight testing of both crewed and uncrewed vehicles has further verified the real-world applications of Trek’s technology. The company states their core technology has the highest specific thrust (lb/kw) in the industry. Aircraft designed by Trek define the efficiency curve used in the UBER Elevate white paper.
This efficiency allows aircraft to carry more weight in a smaller footprint. According to the company, their shrouded propellers require less power, use fewer batteries than other battery powered aircraft, have a greater payload and have a farther range. Furthermore, the company states their shrouded propellers have outperformed similar free propellers to airspeeds in excess of 200 knots, negating much of the drag penalty associated with ducts.
SoloTrek XFV one passenger VTOL backpack helicopter prototype aircraft
The SoloTrek XFV (eXo-skeletal Flying Vehicle) is a one passenger VTOL backpack helicopter prototype aircraft. The twin fixed-pitched ducted propellers were connected to its 2-stroke engine via drive shafts and gear boxes. The company considers the aircraft a backpack helicopter. The company has stated that all their conventionally powered VTOL aircraft can be converted to all electric VTOL aircraft or hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. If a new backpack prototype was designed and made with new eVTOL technologies that exist today, the aircraft would become lighter, safer, more stable, more flight worthy, and more eco-friendly.
Some Historical Information
The SoloTrek XFV was originally conceived in 1996 as a personal air vehicle (PAV). With the SoloTrek XFV concept design, Trek Aerospace attracted the attention of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2000. Trek Aerospace was awarded a $4.7 million USD contract for the further development of the vehicle. The was first tested with the help of NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. NASA has developed a computer simulation that allows the machine to be tested virtually and has also performed wind tunnel tests.
After extensive wind tunnel and ground testing, the first tethered flight took place on December 18, 2001. The SoloTrek traveled only a few meters during its first test flight and was airborne for only 19 seconds but inventor Michael Moshier says this is still a significant step forward. The company was originally located in Sunnyvale, California, USA where the first test flight took place.
Highlighted Specifications of the SoloTrek XFV
The pilot's controls are two joysticks, one joystick is for direction and the other joystick is to gain or lower the altitude. The aircraft was controlled by a fly-by-wire computer system that can tilt each fan individually to control pitch and yaw. Digital control was crucial to provide split-second responses required to dampen vehicle oscillations which tended to get worse when pilot-only control was applied.
The cruise speed of the prototype was 68 mph (109 kph) and had a maximum speed of 82 mph (132 kph). The aircraft had a maximum range of 153 miles (246 km), had a flight time of 2.9 hours and had a maximum altitude of 4,610 ft (1,405 m). The empty weight of the prototype is 312 lb (142 kg) and had a normal takeoff weight of 550 lb (249 kg). The fuselage was made from aluminum honeycomb panels with steel tube landing gear legs. The prototype had fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear. The aircraft has two shoulder straps and a waist strap to secure the pilot to the fuselage. Two foot rests are located on the aircraft's fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.
In 2003, the SoloTrek XFV was substantially redesigned, evolving into the SoloTrek Springtail EFV prototype aircraft.
Agent Cody Banks movie
A version of the aircraft was featured in the movie, "Agent Cody Banks". However, flying sequences were done using special effects, only. Links to the movie are listed in the Resources section below.
Expected Use of the Aircraft
The company expected the military to use the aircraft for reconnaissance, search and rescue, and urban operations. For civilian use, the company anticipated the aircraft to be used for building maintenance, power line inspections and personal transportation.
SoloTrek XFV on Display at the Hiller Aviation Museum
The original SoloTrek XFV is currently on display at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California, USA.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Exo-skeletal one passenger VTOL backpack helicopter prototype aircraft
- Piloting: 1 pilot, two joysticks with a stability augmentation system
- Cruise speed: 68 mph (109 kph)
- Maximum speed: 82 mph (132 kph)
- Range: 153 miles (246 km)
- Flight time: 2.9 hours
- Maximum altitude: 4,610 ft (1,405 m)
- Empty weight: 312 lb (142 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 10.5 gallons (40 liters)
- Maximum pilot weight: 175 lb (79 kg)
- Normal takeoff weight: 550 lb (249 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 720 lb (326 kg).
- Propellers: 2 ducted counter-rotating propellers
- Power source: 110 hp 2-stroke engine. However, this aircraft can be converted easily to an all battery power source or a hybrid-electric power source.
- Fuselage: Aluminum honeycomb panels with steel tube landing gear legs
- Length: 5.65 ft (1.72 m)
- Width: 9.07 ft (2.76 m)
- Height: 7.82 ft (2.38 m)
- Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
- Safety features: The aircraft has two shoulder straps and a waist strap to secure the pilot to the fuselage.
Related Aircraft:
- Trek Aerospace Dragonfly (prototype)
- Trek Aerospace DuoTrek 1.0 (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace DuoTrek 2.0 (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace Elesi (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace FlyKart 1 (prototype)
- Trek Aerospace FlyKart 2 (prototype)
- Trek Aerospace FlyKart 3 (prototype)
- Trek Aerospace LogDrone (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace Mule (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace Nightingale (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace Nytngale (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace OAV-II (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace OVIWUN (production model)
- Trek Aerospace Scorpion (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace SoloTrek Springtail EFV (prototype)
- Trek Aerospace SoloTrek XFVC (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace SoloTrek XFVM (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace TERN (concept design)
- Trek Aerospace Tyrannos (concept design)
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Trek Aerospace website
- Trek Aerospace Twitter
- Trek Aerospace LinkedIn
- Trek Aerospace Wikipedia
- SoloTrek XFV Wikipedia
- Agent Cody Banks (movie) Wikipedia
- Agent Cody Banks (movie) IMBD
- Article: Personal helicopter gets off the ground, New Scientist, Jan. 15, 2002
- Article: SoloTrek XFV, Alchetron, Apr. 29, 2018
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