Vaeridion Announces Electric Propulsion Partner

Vaeridion has selected UK-headquartered Drive System Design (DSD) to develop, build, and test the propeller drive system for its nine-pasenger Microliner regional airliner. As the German all-electric aircraft developer progresses from preliminary design review to full-scale testing, DSD said its two-phased approach will work to support the concept before delivering “tested hardware for integration” at Vaeridion’s headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen..

The Microliner concept will be powered by what Vaeridion describes as its proprietary multi-engine, single-propeller architecture. A propeller drive system combines and transfers the power output from the two engines, something Vaeridion CTO Markus Kochs-Kämper described as the “critical link” within its setup. He added that DSD’s “proven aerospace transmission expertise” will prove vital as the Microliner progresses toward its “copper bird” ground testing.

“DSD brings experience not just in the latest propeller drives but also from technically demanding adjacent projects such as wheel drives or hybrid drives for gas turbines,” said managing director Jason Allen. According to Vaeridion, DSD is now the “third key supplier” signed up to support its electric propulsion unit, joining existing partners MT-Propeller and Evolito.