Zuri TD 1.0 (technology demonstrator)
TD 1.0 (technology demonstrator)
Zuri SE
Prague, Czech Republic
www.zuri.com
In 2017, Czech entrepreneur Michal Illich began his start-up company and conceptualized an aircraft with wings using hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology for urban air mobility (UAM) between two cities (intercity flight). Illich has stated he started his company due to his frustration with the length of time it takes to fly between two fairly close cities using commercial jets.
Illich reports he has founded several companies since 1999 and as of 2010, he is both an active investor in more than 20 companies and an entrepreneur in software and hardware. The company has received funding, is currently looking for more funding and is hiring employees.
TD 1.0 eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft
On September 20, 2021, Zuri for the first time, revealed its hybrid-electric VTOL subscale technology demonstrator, named TD 1.0, at an airport near Prague for the public. At the time, the next steps for TD 1.0 technology demonstrator is to perform ground tests, hover tests and flight tests of the aircraft.
The subscale aircraft has eight VTOL propellers, one pusher propeller, has nine electric motors and uses battery packs for its power source. The aircraft has one high main wing with booms attached under the wings to hold the VTOL propellers. The wingspan of the main wing is 11 m (36 ft). The demonstrator is powered by lithium batteries. However, the production aircraft will have a hybrid-electric power source. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.
When the company revealed the technology demonstrator, one can see employees installing the various parts of the aircraft in a field of grass at an airport. The eVTOL demonstrator is smaller than the company's planned production model. The subscale technology demonstrator looks similar to a two-seater general aviation airplane (like a Cessna 150) with a high wing and fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear. The aircraft also had two rear fixed skids and one front wheeled landing gear.
A technology demonstrator is a working prototype aircraft built to test the concept, avionics, controls, all components, materials, aerodynamics of the aircraft, ground testing, flight testing, collect flight test data and to move the aircraft forward to the eventual goal of manufacturing a production aircraft. Sometimes but not always, a technology demonstrator can be a rough example or an incomplete version of a conceivable production model. At this stage, the company is beginning to develop a plan for manufacturing and producing the aircraft.
The company's goal is to manufacture on-demand, door-to-door mid-range flights with cruising speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph), with a range of 700 km (435 miles) and without the need of airports. The company states the minimum landing space for their aircraft is 15X15 meters (49X49 feet). In addition, this will happened with technology that doesn't compromise the passenger's safety and comfort.
Zuri anticipates it will reveal a new hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft model called the Zuri 2.0 sometime in October 2021. The company has not disclosed when the estimated time when an actual production model might be seen.
On March 20, 2024, Zuri reported the company had successfully flight tested a subscale technology demonstrator including hover, roll and pitch evaluations.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Subscale eVTOL technology demonstrator
- Piloting: Remote
- Cruise speed: Unknown
- Propellers: 8 VTOL propellers, 1 rear pusher propeller
- Electric Motors: 9 electric motors
- Power source: lithium battery packs
- Fuselage: Unknown
- Windows: Standard small airplane windows
- Wings: 1 high wing with booms for the VTOL propellers. The wingspan is 11 m (36 ft).
- Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled 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:
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Zuri website
- Zuri Facebook
- Zuri Twitter
- Zuri YouTube Channel
- Zuri Instagram
- Zuri LinkedIn
- Video: Helicopter + plane = Zuri. Take a look at the Czech machine of the future, Forbes Česko, June 18, 2019
- Article: The first shots of the Zuri aircraft with a vertical takeoff. Illich is getting into the air with him, Forbes, Sept. 8, 2021
- Article: Zuri VTOL demonstrator starts its tests at the airport, 50 Sky Shades, Sept. 20, 2021
- Video: Longest + Highest: ZURI 11-Meter Demonstrator Breaks Its Records, Zuri VTOL, Oct. 23, 2023
- Article: ZURI shares latest video which shows company’s highest and longest test flight of its hybrid-electric VTOL prototype, eVTOL Insights, Oct. 23, 2023
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