Aernnova is to make the flaps for Lilium’s eVTOL aircraft on the basis of an agreement between the two companies reached last week. The flaps are key components that generate lift by redirecting the airflow generated by the Lilium Jet’s 30 electric fan engines.
Lilium said that the Spain-based component and aerostructures specialist will help its engineering team to design the flaps, and will then produce them for the German aircraft maker. The overall propulsion mounting system forms the rear part of the seven-seat Lilium Jet’s wings and front aerofoils.
According to Lilium, its design for integrating the flaps with the engines will result in increased payload, aerodynamic efficiency, and a lower noise profile, compared with other electric propulsion systems. They will also support the thrust vector control that will allow the Lilium Jet to transition between vertical and horizontal flight. Lilium said that the equipment, which will be made from lightweight materials such as reinforced carbon fiber epoxy will be scalable to support the development of planned larger versions of the aircraft carrying 10 to 15 passengers
Aernnova is an established Tier 1 aerospace supplier with a customer base already including major airframers such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Textron, Leonardo, and Sikorsky. In November 2021, Heart Aerospace chose the company to help it to design and develop the ES-19 electric regional airliner. It has more than 4,500 employees, with additional locations in the UK, Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, and China.
“Aernnova is an industry leader for customized design and manufacture of metallic and composites, which makes them an ideal partner,” said Lilium’s chief operating officer Yves Yemsi, who was formerly a senior executive with Airbus. “It is important to us that we collaborate with the best aerospace suppliers and leverage their expertise,”
Additionally, as part of an ongoing expansion of its supply chain, and in a bid to boost the performance of batteries for its eVTOL aircraft, Lilium last week launched a research and development partnership with Livent to advance lithium metal technology for high-performance cells. The companies have not revealed any specific targets or timelines for introducing new batteries, with Lilium describing the project as, “an important step towards securing Lilium’s future access to the high-performance battery cell technology that will power Lilium’s jets.”
Lilium says CustomCells will continue to be the supplier of the Lilium Jet's main batteries. The company started preparing pouch-configured silicon-anode battery cells for the program under an agreement reached in July 2021.
The announcement came soon after Lilium selected Honeywell Aerospace and automotive group Denso to provide the electric motors for Lilium’s seven-passenger eVTOL aircraft. The motors will power the all-electric vehicle's 30 ducted fan engines that are installed in the Lilium Jet’s wing and canard.
U.S.-based Livent, which has been involved in lithium production and applications for almost 80 years, supplies the metal to multiple battery makers and electric vehicle manufacturers. The company, which has more than 1,000 employees and additional facilities in the UK, India, China, and Argentina, says it is committed to producing lithium products in an environmentally sustainable way.
The piloted Lilium Jet, which will have a range of 155 miles and fly at speeds up to 175 mph, is intended to provide regional services connecting cities, rather than flying within cities. Lilium is now targetting type certification and first deliveries in 2025.
