Imagine you are in charge of marketing for French propeller manufacturer, Duc Hélices. The boss stops by your office and asks, “How are we going to sell more props?”
You begin to cite statistics (maybe even this website and its market share data). With more worldwide sales of LSA and LSA-like aircraft (chart), sales could be good, you say. Successful twin engine airplanes like Lockwood’s AirCam or Tecnam‘s Twin that swing two propellers per aircraft certainly add to sales. (Rotax enjoys this, too.)
Yet in the tech world, a 10% or 20% increase is nothing. Those hard-charging Silicon Valley companies have gotten used to things improving by orders of magnitude. “How can we increase sales by ten times,” demands the boss?
“Well, hmmm…” you thoughtfully reply, “I think I have an idea.”
Enter Multicopters
The little single place Kitty Hawk Flyer pictured above is one of several examples. Qualifying as a Part 103 ultralight, it may also be a multicopter you can actually buy and fly in the near future.
Those many breathless stories in mainstream media about autonomously flown air taxis may paint a very different, possibly exciting image of the future of flight, but they may also be years, or decades, away.
Vehicles like Kitty Hawk’s Flyer could get to the market much sooner, assuming FAA throws up no roadblocks — I don’t see the agency doing that, drones have registered more than a million units giving FAA extra duties but also knowledge, and leverage. Indeed, the drone/multicopter development must be music to the regulators’ ears.
Multicopters are also music to ears of prop makers. While Sensenich sells many propellers to Florida’s air boat operators (who wear props out faster than an airplane), Duc Hélices has jumped into the rotorcraft and multicopter market. Good for them! More revenue from tech-billionaire-supported companies means more business for Duc, which should help them keep innovating for the light aircraft sector we all love.
Look again at the Flyer. Here’s a small, light, single-place aircraft with — count ’em — ten props whirring in dizzying circles. Ten props per plane!
“Now we’re talking,” exclaims the boss!
Duc Hélices News
At the Aero Friedrichshafen 2018 show in Germany, Duc Propellers lifted the veil on their latest innovation as they presented a prototype of rotors for multicopters …eVTOLs, flying car, air taxis, and who knows what next.
Last spring, Duc Hélices announced, “Our new branch, dedicated to the design and the realization of helicopter and multicopter rotors, is running at full speed.”
The company added, “A very large investment was required to finance four years of studies for the development of multicopter blades.” They cited a new propeller production press and a series of qualification and validation tests including “form control; mechanical analysis of tensile strength/flexion/torsion; vibration tests; tests of aging; and fatigue.”
Complete and ready, Duc Propellers Company now offers literature and products for:
- Complete rotors for multicopter (composite blades and hub rotor head)
- Helicopter blades (up to 9 meter or 29.5 foot diameter)
- Full anti-torque rotor (RAC blades in composite and hub)
The company also proposes to evaluate special blades or complete rotor systems at the request of the customer. “Thanks to our know-how, Duc Propellers Company aims to become a key player in the manufacture of blades for all sorts of rotary-winged aircraft.”
One More (New) Thing
Duc Hélices has enjoyed considerable success in the U.S. market, thanks to persistent effort at airshows by their capable Michael Dederian. At LSA events these days, I see two brands all the time: Sensenich from Plant City, Florida and Duc Hélices from Frontenas, France.
To better serve their growing U.S.market, Duc will open a new facility at the Sebring, Florida airport. To celebrate, Duc Propellers USA will host an official opening party in Hangar C2 (442 Hendricks Field Way). People attending the event are invited at 6 PM on Friday January 25, 2019. To confirm or ask questions about the kick-off party, contact Mrs. Héloïse Jonda at her email address.
Without the name of at least the airframe builder or airframe manufacturer; you are leaving me cold. Would you please supply the name of the airframe builder or the airframe manufacturer? There are numerous airframe manufacturers of this type of airframe. So knowing who made this particular airframe would be extremely helpful.
Hi again Terry: I already responded to this but the airframe builder of the pictured aircraft is Kitty Hawk and the aircraft is called Flyer. Here’s another multicopter article reference.
Where is the canopy? Is there a canopy; or is one one needed or desired, based on the picture? I assume Batteries are the power source. Where are the batteries stored; looks like in the side pods; or under the seat, or both? Is there anyone in the midwest US that has a multicopter for viewing and possibly flying? Can you email performance specifications to email: tdwelander@gmail.com?
Specifically, would you email the endurance time of the batteries; the battery charge time to full charge; the expected life of the batteries; battery bank replacement cost; cruising speed; and if a canopy is available? And where a kit could be purchased and/or viewed including contact info? I assume the multicopter is built to aircraft standards so it can be certified as an experimental aircraft or as a light sport aircraft (LSA). Confirmation requested.
And the most important; what is the maximum gross weight of the pilot? How many have been built and the number that are flying would be very useful; and where they are located? Or a referral to who has this information is requested. And any additional knowledge or information on the multicopter you may have would be appreciated.
Hi Terry: You ask many worthy questions but you need to get your answers directly from the company. Only they can answer your questions.
I am not sure about their directions or goals; they do not respond like most aircraft producers. I have asked to visit their facility and fly their aircraft but they have not extended an invitation. Good luck!
Duc Helices makes propellers only and the 10 propeller multicopter shown; a manufacturer is not listed. Do you happen to know who is the manufacturer that built the 10 propeller multicopter shown in the picture?
It is a picture of a real multicopter and not an artists rendering; so a manufacturer should be listed somewhere. A web review shows numerous quadcopters and some one-of-kind; more than 10 propeller multicopters and none appear practical.
So without a company name; you leave me in search mode; highly undesirable. Even if the manufacturer does not have any answers to my questions here; just knowing who made this multicopter frame and which motors and control system were used would be enough of a starting point for me. Even just knowing who built the frame would be a good starting point; as motors and control systems are all over the net.
Hi Terry: The article was about a business opportunity for Dec Hélices (Duc Propellers USA). It was not meant to be a thorough review of the aircraft using propellers. However, the aircraft shown is the Kitty Hawk Flyer. You can see our earlier article for some more detail but you need to contact the company for the information you seek. I consider it early to think about purchase. Questions remain to be resolved, for example, how exactly is the Flyer supposed to qualify as a Part 103 ultralight vehicle as the company suggests (see above linked article for a comment about stall speed). They report FAA is onboard with this classification but top speed, stall speed, and weight are yet to be stated authoritatively. Nonetheless, these new flying machines are most intriguing to many and we will continue reporting on them as appropriate.
Muito bom parabéns,seu trabalho é maravilhoso,só gostaria de conseguir um trike ultraleve,mas está difícil de conseguir conquistar um lindo trike.