Zapata AirScooter (prototype)

AirScooter (prototype)
Zapata
Marseille, France
www.zapata.com

Founded in 2008 by Franky Zapata and based in France, Zapata is an innovative company that has designs, manufactures and sells water sport and flying machines for leisure and adventure sports. These machines mostly use water jet nozzles or micro-turbo jet engines for their propulsion. The company has recently changed its focus on designing and manufacturing hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). Some of Zapata's top goals for their VTOL aircraft will be a high priority on safety, will be easy to fly, are environmentally clean and are affordable. (All images: Zapata.)

Zapata's water and micro-turbo jet propelled platforms and aircraft include (this list might not be complete):

• FlyBoard: Water propelled platform, person stands. Sales started in 2011 (per Zapata's website).
• FlyBoard Pro: High performance water propelled platform, person stands. First revealed in 2018.
• HoverBoard: Water propelled skateboard-type platform, person stands. Invented in 2014.
• FlyBoard Air: World's smallest micro-turbojet-powered hoverboard, person stands. First revealed in April 2016.
• JetPack: Water propelled powered flying seat, person sits. First revealed in 2019.
• JetRacer: Micro-turbo jet engine propelled flying aircraft with open cockpit, person sits. First revealed in 2022.
• AirScooter: Hybrid-electric VTOL one passenger multicopter aircraft, person sits. First revealed in June 2023.

AirScooter one passenger multicopter prototype aircraft
The AirScooter is a futuristic one passenger easy-to-fly hybrid-electric VTOL multicopter prototype aircraft. The cockpit has a slightly elongated vertical egg-shaped look with long, high windows in the front of the aircraft. While the concept design aircraft shows windows on both sides of the aircraft, according to the prototype type pictures, there are no windows on either side of the aircraft and there is only a front windscreen. There are two joysticks the pilot will use to fly the aircraft. The pilot seat has a safety harness to protect the pilot.

The aircraft's cruise speed is 80 km/h (50 mph), has a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and has a flight time of over two hours. The multicopter has a maximum altitude of 2,987 m (9,800 ft). The AirScooter concept design had a total of 12 propellers. However, the prototype has 14 propellers. The prototype has eight booms which is the same number of booms as the concept design aircraft. On the prototype, four booms have two propellers each, one propeller at the end of each boom and one propeller located in the middle of each boom. These eight propellers are located under the boom. In addition, two of these four booms have a vertical propeller for yaw control on the rear two booms of the aircraft. Then on the other four booms, there are four propellers at the end of each boom and are located on the top of these four booms.

The empty weight of the aircraft is 112 kg (247 lb), has a maximum payload of 120 kg (264 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of over 232 kg (511 lb). The fuel tank holds 18.9 L (5 gallons). The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed tricycle strut landing gear. The AirScooter prototype was first shown to the public on June 14, 2023 at the 7th annual Viva Technology trade show held in Paris, France.

Prototype test flight
Not much is known about the AirScooter test flights except that the first test flight video the company uploaded on their YouTube Channel was on Feb. 13, 2024. In the video, the aircraft was being piloted remotely without anyone on board.

The AirScooter is an ultralight aircraft and expected to first be used for tourist flights
The company has stated the aircraft is compliant with the Federal Aviation Administration's (USA) Part 103 Regulations and can be flown without a pilot's license as an ultralight aircraft. Zapata has a patented computer assisted fly-by-wire controls which ensure the highest degree of safety while requiring minimal training. According to the company, the AirScooter carbon footprint is comparable to a passenger car. The company estimates the aircraft will first be used for tourist flights and for leisure travel.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric VTOL passenger multicopter aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cruise speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
• Flight time: 2 hours +
• Empty weight: 112 kg (247 lb)
• Maximum payload: 120 kg (264 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 232 kg (511 lb) +
• Propellers: 14 propellers on 8 booms (4 booms have 2 propellers each and 2 of these booms have an additional vertical yaw control propellers. Each of these booms have a VTOL propeller at the end and under the booms and there is also another propeller that is located in the middle of the boom, under the boom. The other 4 booms have 4 propellers at the top and at the end of these booms.)
• Electric motors: 14 electric motors
• Power source: Hybrid-electric power source
• Fuel tank: 18.9 L (5 gallons)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Dimensions: 340 X 340 X 256 (L X W X H, cm), 11 X 11 X 8 (feet)
• Window: 1 long, high window. (The concept design had 1 window on each side of the cockpit. The prototype does not have any windows on the side of the cockpit.)
• Tail: 1 horizontal stabilizer tail, very similar to a high boom tail
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle strut 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.

Company Insights:

• Genobetan Court
• Pitchbook

Resources:

• Zapata website
• Zapata Facebook
• Zapata YouTube Channel
• Zapata Instagram
• Zapata LinkedIn
• Franky Zapata Wikipedia
• FlyBoard Wikipedia
• FlyBoard Air Wikipedia
• Article: Franky Zapata’s Real Life Hoverboard Sent Social Media Ablaze. Then the American Military Called, Sharp, July 10, 2017
• Video: FLYBOARD AIR DEMO - MOTO GP LE MANS, Zapata, May 29, 2018
• Video: Flyboard Air in the US desert!, Zapata, Mar. 8, 2019
• Article: Franky Zapata successfully crosses the English Channel on his jet-powered Flyboard Air, New Atlas, Aug. 4, 2019
• Article: Franky Zapata’s Hoverboard, for an Adrenaline-Filled Water Ride, Luxatic, Dec. 13, 2021
• Video: JETRACER®: THE FIRST FLYING CAR AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC (by ZAPATA COMPANY), Zapata, Aug. 4, 2022
• Article: Flying chair ‘JetRacer’ travels up to 250km/h with 10 micro-turbojets, Design Boom, Aug. 16, 2022
• Article: This Bonkers Jet-Powered Hoverboard Can Fly 10,000 Feet High—at 110 MPH, Robb Report, Jan. 14. 2023
• Video: Airscooter: the world’s most advanced personal flying machine, Zapata, June 14, 2023
• Video: AirScooter by Zapata is flying!, Zapata, Feb. 13, 2024
• Article: AirScooter by Zapata VTOL Flying Machine, Robotic Gizmos, Feb. 14, 2024
• Article: The Airscooter would be a personal flying machine, offering an alternative to cars, Supercar Blondie, Apr. 26, 2024