The BlackBird electric plane can brake and hover precisely in the air: how does it work

CycloTech has created a prototype of an eVTOL device capable of creating thrust in any direction. The unique power plant ensures a smooth flight without turbulence even during complex maneuvers.

Austrian aviation company CycloTech is preparing for tests of a new demonstration model of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft equipped with an innovative CycloRotor power plant. About it writes Interesting Engineering.

Unlike conventional propellers, cyclorotors are capable of generating thrust in any direction along a 360-degree axis. This powerplant is the only system capable of controlling the thrust vector in terms of force and direction along a complete circular trajectory, the company emphasized.

This omnidirectional thrust vectoring capability opens up unprecedented maneuverability and allows the BlackBird aircraft to take off and land vertically, hover precisely, and even brake in midair.

The BlackBird demonstration sample will have six cyclorotors, two of which will be located along the longitudinal axis of the device. The unique power plant ensures a smooth flight without turbulence even during difficult maneuvers. Two cyclorotors on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft ensure lateral flight without roll of the aircraft and increase maneuverability. In addition, the use of multiple cyclorotors ensures redundancy, meaning the aircraft can maintain controllability and stability even in the event of a single engine failure.

BlackBird will be a compact and maneuverable vehicle measuring 4.9 m long, 2.3 m wide and 2 m high. In addition, it is assumed that it will develop a maximum speed of 120 km/h. Its maximum take-off weight will be 340 kg. It is currently under development and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

However, the exact details of the BlackBird's passenger capacity and flight range have not yet been released. At the same time, you can expect a wide range of BlackBird applications. Undoubtedly, it will function as a personal aerial vehicle, helping people bypass ground traffic and move quickly through densely populated urban areas. However, it will also be able to be used for more complex tasks, such as rescue operations, thanks to its ability to hover and land precisely even in adverse weather and landscape conditions.

BlackBird trials are scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. Notably, the competition in the electric aircraft market is becoming increasingly fierce: several companies, such as Volocopter, Airbus and Joby Aviation, are developing their own models to improve urban mobility.