Israel's AD&D is developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) prototype flying car. The company is already flight testing a VTOL platform known as the Hummingbird for transporting one person.
According to AD&D managing director Rafi Yoeli, the two-seat flight vehicle, dubbed CityHawk, is designed to take off and land vertically and stay airborne for up to 1h. The maximum operating ceiling for the CityHawk is a planned 8,000ft (2,440m) and it will reach speeds of up to 90kt (165km/h). "The machine has 2.5 x 5.5m footprint compatible with most standard urban parking spaces and garages", Yoeli says. It is powered by two "off-the-shelf" fans, each driven by four piston engines - used to power the Hummingbird and Hornet unmanned air vehicle.
Yoeli says the multiple engine design provides redundancy in the event of engine failure, allowing the aircraft to land normally. In severe emergencies, a ballistically deployed parachute will lower the vehicle to the ground. Although it is termed a "flying car", the vehicle will not be able to travel by road.
The vehicle is controlled from the left-hand cockpit seat using manual control - total thrust of both fans determines vertical speed, while differential thrust will be used for pitch control and forward speed. Roll and yaw are controlled by cascades of vanes on the upper and lower side of each fan.
According to AD&D, future versions of the CityHawk could be used primarily for operation in restricted areas where helicopters have limited accessibility due to their rotors. Variants of the concept will be able to provide personal urban transport, police patrol, and urban evacuation missions.
The prototype demonstrator of the CityHawk is to make its first flight later this year.
Source: Flight International
