Textron Starts Wind Tunnel Tests for Nexus eVTOL Aircraft
Textron eAviation this week confirmed that it has started wind tunnel testing with a 23 percent scale model of its planned Nexus eVTOL aircraft. The company's engineers are looking to validate the vehicle's performance, stability, and control to ensure the accuracy of their preliminary configuration, range, and speed estimates.
According to the company, the Nexus wind tunnel test is expected to provide critical data concerning tail size, engine power requirements, transition strategies, hover net thrust, and aerodynamic drag. This information will play a pivotal role in meeting certification standards and finalizing the aircraft's requirements.
“Starting wind tunnel testing is a major milestone for the Nexus, enabling us to calibrate our simulations and validate our design," said Rob Scholl, president and CEO of Textron eAviation. "The Nexus aircraft is designed with a focus on operating economics demanded by customers and meeting the rigorous standards of global safety regulators. While eVTOLs have unique configurations in terms of their layout and number of rotors, Textron eAviation is leveraging the extensive experience of programs like the Bell V22 and V280. The data and insights gained from this wind tunnel testing will allow us to...design a viable, leading eVTOL aircraft.”
Wichita, Kansas-based Textron eAviation was formed in 2022 as a focal point for its efforts to take a leading position in electric aviation. In addition to its Nexus eVTOL unit, the subsidiaries of the business aircraft manufacturer include Europe-based general aviation innovator Pipistrel.
Dronamics Receives IATA, ICAO Designators for Drone Operations
European drone developer Dronamics just became the first cargo drone airline to receive official designator codes from the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Its IATA two-character airline designator code is “OY,” and its ICAO three-letter designator is “DXE.” ICAO has given Dronamics the call sign “Black Swan,” which is also the name of the company’s flagship autonomous aircraft.
Surf Air Mobility To Debut on New York Stock Exchange
Surf Air Mobility says it plans to list its common stock for trading on the New York Stock Exchange during the week of July 24. The Los Angeles-based electric and regional aviation company will be listed under the ticker symbol SFRM. Surf Air Mobility filed for a direct listing in November 2022, following the termination of its planned $1.42 billion merger with special purpose acquisition company Tuscan Holdings Corporation II.
Advanced Air Mobility Institute To Open in Texas
The Advanced Air Mobility Institute will open an office at the Greenport International Airport and Technology Center, a new airport, research and development facility, and corporate campus near Austin, Texas. Under a letter of intent signed this week, the Boston-based nonprofit corporation has secured a 10,000-sq-ft office building next to the airstrip at Greenport International Airport, as well as an acre of land that it will use “to engage in field research and integration testing with our growing number of strategic partnerships,” the AAM Institute wrote in a LinkedIn post about the announcement.
Green Energy Entrepreneur Says He Will Launch Zero Carbon Airline
Renewable energy entrepreneur Dale Vince this week announced his intention to launch a UK-based airline that will eventually operate hydrogen-electric-powered aircraft. He aims to start Ecojet in early 2024, offering domestic flights from cities including Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, subject to securing an air operator certificate.
Initially, Ecojet will operate 19-seat aircraft burning existing jet-A fuel to get routes established as it waits for zero-carbon alternatives to be available. Vince released promotional images of aircraft including the Twin Otter and Dash 8 turboprops, as well as a Boeing 737, without confirming which models it intends to include in its fleet. The company also declined to answer questions from FutureFlight as to where it will source hydrogen-powered aircraft. Several companies, including ZeroAvia, Conscious Aerospace, and Universal Hydrogen, are working to convert models such as the ATR and Dash 8 turboprops. Other alternatives might include plans by Cranfield Aerospace and Britten-Norman to develop a hydrogen-powered version of the Islander or Maeve’s proposed all-electric regional airliner.
Business Aviation Group Calls for Airports to Electrify Early
Airports should accelerate their efforts to electrify their infrastructure to be ready in good time for advanced air mobility (AAM) operations, according to the National Business Aviation Association. Alex Gertsen, the industry group’s director of ground infrastructure, urged more rapid action on this front during a meeting last week of the Airport Cooperative Research Program.
“NBAA is working to help integrate AAM successfully into the National Airspace System, ensuring interoperability with all existing aircraft types and ultimately to let airports know that they should be preparing for electrification and new aircraft arriving, [and] not sit back and just say, ‘Oh, I can wait’,” he commented. Gertsen said the business aviation industry should embrace the new electric aircraft in part because they are expected to be able to operate where existing rotorcraft face exclusion. “While they are not a direct replacement for helicopters, they alleviate a lot of the community concerns that exist now for airports like East Hampton [New York] and Santa Monica [California], where the surrounding communities are more sensitive to that.”
