Bellwether Industries has formed a strategic partnership with Schubeler on the development of electric propulsion systems for its Volar line of personal eVTOL aircraft. The company has also partnered with Viasat for airborne connectivity for the Volar.
Schubeler, which provides off-the-shelf electric ducted fans and custom propulsion systems, supported Bellwether’s development of its early-generation Antelope prototype and will collaborate on the launch of the Oryx model now undergoing testing in Dubai.
UK-based Bellwether is debuting the Oryx during Dubai, showcasing a subscale model of a three-seat eVTOL aircraft that offers a sleek, sports car-like design with no wing or external propellers. Bellwether said the aircraft will fly up to 50 miles in under 20 minutes on a single charge. Plans call for European approval by 2028.
“Schubeler’s contribution to the development of electric propulsion has been pivotal in shaping Bellwether’s Volar eVTOL,” said Vidyut Jacob, Bellwether's senior director of mobility and strategy. “We are looking forward to integrating their propulsion technology into our upcoming phases, including the highly anticipated full-scale launch, further solidifying our collaboration.”
Bellwether also announced that it selected Viasat's Velaris satellite communications system for the Oryx. Velaris consists of a 300-gram (0.6-pound) terminal installed on Oryx; the terminal connects to Viasat's satcom network as well as the cellular LTE network, allowing operators to access to applications such as real-time monitoring and airspace integration including air traffic services and air traffic flow management, according to Viasat.
The companies expect to begin testing the Viasat terminal as part of the Volar project next year at the CATUAV Test Center in Spain.