A new type of plane with vertical take-off and landing bypasses the limits of autonomy and load thanks to a clever concept. Equipped with long wings for a more economical flight, the Transwing folds them in order to land vertically without requiring a runway.
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Vertical Take-off and Landing (Adav) planes have been a hot topic lately, with two flying taxis which took a new step last week. This week, it is a concept of the American manufacturer PteroDynamics which makes the buzz. Transwing is an electric ADAV under development which has the particularity of transforming into flight to eliminate the main weak points of this type of aircraft.
The adavs, a category that includes most of the drones as well as helicopters, are particularly advantageous for urban use because they do not require a take-off runway like a classic plane. They are therefore well suited for use as flying taxi, for example. However, this mode of flight requires more power, limiting their cargo or passenger transport capacity, as well as their range.
Presentation of the Transwing with demonstration of the transformation in flight. In English, activate automatic translation of subtitles. © PteroDynamics
Wings that fold up for landing
The Transwing has two classically shaped wings, each with two electric motors, and can therefore fly like a standard airplane. This gives it better autonomy and the ability to carry heavier loads than others. adav. For landing and take-off, its two wings pivot and fold in order to stand vertically alongside the aircraft. The operation is performed in flight, without disturbing the movement of the’aircraft, allowing it to land vertically, like a helicopter, on a small surface. The device uses five times less power once the wings are out, and PteroDynamics believes it could reach 640 km / h.
The Transwing is still in development and the manufacturer does not give any date for a possible commercialization for the moment. Currently, PteroDynamics is working on three prototypes with a wingspan of 1.3, 2 and 3.5 meters. The firm intends to start with cargo drones, and aims to develop flying taxis for the transport of passengers.
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