Waypoints: Contraption to conveyance

Aviation, of course, went through a similar evolutionary phase with unbelievably weird contraptions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Turns out the Wright brothers got it about 85 percent right in 1903, and we’ve been playing around with the remaining 15 percent ever since. Piston engines primarily propelled our airplanes for the first half of the last century—and even since turbines came along, piston power has heretofore been the power of choice for those of us flying lighter airplanes.

But as we move toward the middle of this century, electric propulsion is leading to a new phase of wacky designs, many of which don’t have the wing and tail surfaces we’ve come to expect of “airplanes.” As happened with “horseless carriages” and aeroplanes, somewhere out of this mix of unusual electric airplanes, quadcopters, octocopters, and other concepts, useful and practical vehicles will emerge. In a couple of decades we will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.

In the meantime, we get to ponder—and, OK, maybe throw some darts at—various concepts that exist today.

Consider, for example, the “flying car.” Founded in 2006, Terrafugia’s Transition flying car is the granddaddy of such twenty-first century concepts. There were, of course, earlier such designs, the most successful of which was the Taylor Aerocar in 1949. It appears about six were built. Terrafugia has built two Transition prototypes and has proposed numerous other models and variants, including an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle. The latest iteration of the proposed production model is reported to have a hybrid-electric motor, Dynon displays, and a BRS airframe parachute system. It will be certified as a Light Sport airplane, but at a higher maximum gross weight, thanks to an FAA waiver. A big bold button on the Terrafugia website tells you to “Reserve Now” and send in your $10,000 refundable deposit via PayPal. The company expects to begin deliveries in 2019. In the name of transparency, in 2009, they were expecting first deliveries in 2010, and are not the first aviation company to be a decade late in delivering a product.

While the Transition, with its wings unfolded, resembles an airplane, many of the electric and electric-hybrid vehicles being proposed look far different. From the “motorcycle on a mattress” look of the Kitty Hawk electric ultralight proof of concept to the Surefly octocopter, the range of ideas is, well, broad; some inspire more confidence than others. The Kitty Hawk design has evolved considerably, but still seems to only be allowed about 10 feet above the water—and water only, with a battery life of about 20 minutes. It could be a fun beach vacation experience, but is still a long ways from being a practical transportation vehicle.

Rather than relying on batteries, Surefly uses a small gasoline engine with a generator to power eight electric motors driving propellers on four folding wings; a top-mounted battery provides enough power to safely lower the vehicle should the engine take a powder. The boxy two-place VTOL vehicle has made a few powered, untethered flights.

Surefly is one of numerous concepts being designed for urban transport. Surefly is for now a manned aircraft, but like others, it ultimately could be autonomous. Get in, tell it where you want to go, and then get back to your Instagram posts while you are whisked to your destination.

It would be easy to dismiss some of these projects, except for the names behind them. Larry Page, co-founder of Google, is behind Kitty Hawk. Airbus, Boeing, Aston Martin, GE, Uber, Lyft, Siemens, Rolls-Royce, and Lockheed Martin are among the others exploring the technologies to advance electric flight, many of them showcasing flashy animations of their concepts at work.

Pipistrel and Bye Aerospace are taking a more conventional approach, developing rather normal-looking light airplanes propelled by electric motors, most of the motors from Siemens. The Pipistrel Alpha Electro trainer is for sale now and in use in several countries. It currently isn’t certified in the United States because FAA regulations don’t yet accommodate electric propulsion; that should change soon. Meanwhile, the Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer is flying and well on its way to certification.

As with automobiles, we are revisiting electric propulsion, as the first electric aircraft was an airship in 1883. A steam-powered dirigible flew in 1852. So far, no one seems to be planning to revisit that technology. But stay tuned.

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