LYTE Aviation shares details of hybrid eVTOL program
Artist impressions of LYTE Aviation's SkyBus, which can carry up to 40-passengers
LYTE Aviation has used its presence at Helicopter Investor 2023 in London to unveil details of its 40-seat (hybrid) eVTOL SkyBus and SkyTruck program.
Its LA-44 SkyBus, the result of three year’s R&D will offer a range of 1,000 km with a maximum speed of 300 km/hr, using mainly technology available today. The LA-44 is a hybrid electric tandem tilt-wing design and features two separate propulsion systems: four electric motors at the wingtips for control and stability, powered by hydrogen fuel cells complementing four conventional turbine engines, running on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Speaking at the event, Freshta Farzam, founder & CEO, explained that “The use of turbine engines will likely remain unavoidable for the foreseeable future, so in order to achieve useful and business-sensible ranges as well as quicker time to market, we have opted for a hybrid, partly electric VTOL.”
The ambition is to become fully hydrogen-electric in the future once the necessary global infrastructure has been developed and rolled out.
The LA-44 will feature underslung load capability with a 4.5 tonne payload and 17 tonnes’ gross weight and be honed for operation in other rugged operational conditions and (in the absence of ground infrastructure) in remote areas. A full-scale prototype is being planned within 24 months.
In an accompanying March 23 press release, Frehta went on to state that, “We are focusing on facilitating the easy movement of passenger and cargo air transportation in a fast, safe, cost-effective and sustainable way. SkyTruck will be designed to deliver time-sensitive cargo faster from point to point, without reliance on runways, designed for the time critical demands of the onshore and (especially) offshore industry.”
LYTE Aviation's SkyTruck has been designed to deliver time-sensitive cargo
She added, “LYTE Aviation’s vision is to significantly enhance speed and frequency of passenger mass transit and cargo deliveries. The LA-44 represents the work of LYTE’s world-class team, who collectively hold 200 years’ aviation experience.”
Freshta also confirmed that Inmarsat and Inflight Canada had joined the project.
Anthony Spouncer, Senior Director of ITM at Inmarsat commented in the press release, “Inmarsat is excited to team with LYTE Aviation and be a key partner in delivering a safety information service to and from the LA-44 platform, as part of a line-fit delivery programme for its hybrid electric vehicle.
Inflight Canada, a leading Transport Canada, FAA and EASA approved aerospace design organization and inflight specialist which supports aerospace projects from conception, engineering and integration through to maintenance and manufacturing, will partner LYTE for the "reversible" cargo modification.
