This article again delves into the changing face of aviation and in this case within the Part 103 Ultralight Vehicle sector.
Infotech in Part 103 ultralight vehicles means far more than GPS or even synthetic vision digital screens (imagine an iPad mated to a Levil box … remarkable stuff and for very little money). However, digital avionics are not the point of this story.
In the last few days, a formerly Canadian company, Opener, announced their new eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing), the second developer I know of to adopt Part 103’s simplicity and freedom. Like Kitty Hawk’s Flyer*, the rather unusually-named BlackFly also calls itself an “ultralight,” more precisely meaning an ultralight vehicle that can operate under Part 103. What you might like about this, compared to more than a dozen “air taxi” designs, is that BlackFly appears aimed at recreational flyers (as does Flyer).
Developers probably use Part 103 because they can do what they want sooner, easier, and not require a pilot’s license — or much FAA oversight. Conversely, any aircraft with two or more seats must use another FAR section inviting much more regulation.
“Infotech” is a catchall word suggesting computer technology or software or algorithms. It may be hard to explain precisely but it conveys an image of modern, fast, and cheap. Many fields are being altered by infotech. Why should aviation be any different?
Opener’s BlackFly
Opener issued several news releases on July 12th, evidently aimed at mainstream news who seized on the unorthodox vehicle. The company, now quartered in Silicon Valley, claims “1,400+ flights and 12,000+ miles flown” over nine years of stealthy development; most of these were remotely piloted. Manned flight is very recent.
Over BlackFly’s long development period the craft has changed (older at left).
“Opener is re-energizing the art of flight with a safe and affordable flying vehicle,” said Marcus Leng, CEO. “We will offer competitive pricing in an endeavor to democratize three-dimensional personal transportation. Safety has been our primary driving goal in the development of this new technology.”
“Even though not required by FAA regulations,” Leng continued, “BlackFly operators will be required to successfully complete the FAA Private Pilot written examination and also complete company-mandated vehicle familiarization and operator training.”
In its news blitz, Opener announced Google guru Larry Page is one of the company’s strategic backers. Page also is helping to finance Kitty Hawk and its Flyer (photo below).
In a CBS News article, Leng was reported saying, “When you press the thumb-stick to climb, you have absolute full control. When you stop in the middle of the air and go off the joystick, the aircraft freezes.” These phrases are hardly the way a pilot would say it; perhaps he stated it this way because he was speaking to a non-pilot reporter.
Although BlackFly claims full amphibious capabilities, “It is primarily designed to easily operate from small grassy areas and travel distances of up to 25 miles at a speed of 62 mph.” said Opener. It presently has a 25-minute flight endurance. See more specifications; scroll down to bottom.
As with most of these multicopters, BlackFly’s feature list differs from most LSA:
- Software flight-envelope protection
- Automatic Return-to-Home button (localized training feature)
- Soft-landing assist (making BlackFly approachable to non-pilots)
- Comprehensive training (required for purchase)
- Geofence-capable (ostensibly preventing entry to certain airspace)
- Super Charging capable (less than 30 minutes)
- Low noise signature
- Ballistic parachute option available
- Manufactured in the USA
* Kitty Hawk’s Flyer has been significantly upgraded since our earlier report. Besides a more accommodating cockpit, the new versions boasts ten props/rotors (“lift fans” Kitty Hawk calls them), making it a “decacopter.” BlackFly is an octocopter.
Regarding that “competitive pricing” comment, Leng said he “hopes BlackFly will be available to buy next year for roughly the price of an SUV.” That sounds volume-dependent, but Opener appears to have substantial financial support.
Alan Eustace, former vice president of knowledge at Google, sits on the startup’s board of directors. My guess is the money supply is something any LSA producer would love to claim.
If SUVs run $40,000 to $80,000 and if Opener could indeed achieve this, that might be a game changer.
Are Multicopters ‘Inevitable’ in Aviation?
“I’ve noticed in my career that things go from impossible to inevitable in a very short period of time,” Eustace said.
Another view of Kitty Hawk’s refreshed Flyer.
His thoughts and my expanding view of this new wave of designs suggests we are just seeing the beginning of a new kind of aircraft, one anybody might be able to enjoy with mimimal or no training. I know that sounds radical and ill-advised but the potential of software-enhanced flying is hard to overlook — at least once the software is judged “very robust.” It is not yet, but that may follow rather quickly.
“The dream of flight, which was so difficult and expensive to obtain, will soon be within the reach of millions,” added Eustace. “Opener is putting the fun back into flying and opening up a new world of possibilities.”
If you are attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in a few days, you can check out BlackFly yourself. Opener vehicles will be on display in the Innovation Showcase, booths IC-12A and 13A.
I think $80-100k would be reasonable. Just keep ICON in mind, they started at $139k and found themselves in a hole. What’s the base of an A-5 nowadays, $350k+?
You basically stated the listed price for Jetson and BlackFLy. Will those prices last? Who knows. If enough volume happens, they could even come down. (See other comments about these machines running into one another.)
Mr. Johnson, in your response to Jackie you are missing several important points. No one in an eVTOL aircraft will want to get near an airport, I would expect. And leaving one’s garage is not where airport aircraft fly. So conflict with airport aircraft appears not possible.
Here’s an interview with Blackfly at AirVenture.
https://www.avweb.com/videos/Blackfly-VTOL-At-AirVenture-231246-1.html
The rep mentions a range of prices from “cheap SUV” to “expensive SUV”. To me, “cheap SUV” means $25k or lower, still expensive for an ultralight but affordable for many people. How soon could we see a model with this price?
I’ve read that tandem wings are practically stall resistant. Can the plane glide without power? Do variable speed rotors provide the only control?
On closer inspection, the wings have ailerons behind the outer rotor on each wing, but I don’t know how much control they’d provide in unpowered flight. Without the ailerons, the rotors are practically the only moving parts. Would the plane have no roll control without them? The aerodynamics of this thing seem pretty radical, and after so many failed attempts, the flying car seems to demand a radical departure.
With 8 electric motors and 8 propellers and you are concerned about no power operation?
Are you kidding? You would have to explain how unpowered flight is possible in an aircraft
with 8 electric motors and 8 propellers.
Distractions are never, ever welcome; from anyone. Try focusing on what is going here!!!! You will make more friends that way. The real question is: how much will Larry Page subsidize the BlackFly in order to get his money back? Or does it matter to him? Does anyone know? $80,000 is probably too much money. $40,000 sounds doable. But BlackFly would probably need to sell over 500 aircraft at $40,000 for Mr. Page to get his money back. Doable; but when will they get there? Opener seems to be the expert at keeping their situation close to their vest. Or no one seems to really know what is going on at Opener; not even the employees. Or the communication between Mr. Page and Mr. Leng appears very part time and not particularly helpful for bringing this aircraft to market; though I assume caution with the FAA and attorneys is a big part of the picture with Mr. Page owning the company. Only frustration appears available in trying to talk with Opener. The BlackFly design is truly unique; it should sell itself. Opener says they have 30 flying aircraft but for whatever reason are not yet selling any. Go Figure!!! I guess that is what happens when a billionaire owns the company. Does this mean, watch out for billionaires? They will fool the public every time? Frustration, frustration, frustration! Just damn, damn, damn! Not a happy camper here with Black Fly, Opener!
There are $150k SUVs …they left the range of possible prices very open.
A price tag starting at $40,000, leaves me WAY out of their market. I will just stay with my $5,000 Weedhopper. Or my $10,000 restored 1940 Taylorcraft.
Hi Sabina: Everyone has their own budget but I am happy you have other lower cost ways to get in the air!
Did you read $40k somewhere? If they’re starting at $20k, I can easily imagine the price falling to $20k in a few years. This machine is much simpler than an electric car.
Never mind … You read it in this article! With sufficient economies of scale, this plane could be very affordable, seems to me.
I see more use of the newly developed electric motor for other part 103 aircraft.
Hi Dan: Thanks to work by LAMA, it may be possible for Part 103 ultralight vehicles to truly develop electric propulsion for more conventionally-configured (i.e., fixed wing) aircraft.
Part 103 cripples any hope of an onboard charging system. A charger would increase the flight distance and safety – securing both appears to be of no concern to FAA. Possibilities has now become “the mother of invention.” An archaic rule book will stifle the progress of the use of electric drive.
Don’t be too sure about that. After four years of LAMA meeting with agency executives to negotiate changes — to which FAA has reacted more warmly than at first expected — the chances of a more practical eUltralight may be closer than they appear.
The reality is that government is controlled by big business – not by it’s subjects. The electric aviation is still a very small fraction of the industry. That is why we are proceeding to the after market where an owner can convert some aircraft over to electric – making them experimental. They can be switched back should they need to sell their plane. The foreign market is also a very good option electric sales.
Hmm, power failure at 120′ will result in a nice crater. Better make sure to get the ‘optional’ ballistic chute; no wait, those only work above 200′. Sounds like a nasty H-V curve. Hope they have good lawyers.
That’s the point of all the redundant systems.
Redundancy makes a crater unlikely, and I’d sign a waiver.
LMAO …remember that boat that was “unsinkable” and thus didn’t need any lifeboats?
Your car’s also a deathtrap, but you drive it every day. The world has more than enough daredevils to get innovation off the ground, even if you aren’t one of them.
When enough of these are sold, how is government going to handle air traffic? That is going to be one of the main dangers when everybody is flying these things around. Will there be some kind of a system, some kind of priority going a certain direction or something that states who gets priority when the planes intersect, etc.?
Hi Jackie: Government, specifically FAA, is no doubt excited for the extra budget they will get to manage multicopter and drone traffic and one imagines they can do a good job. However, the irony is that these new infotech-laden aircraft will come to market knowing where all the other similar traffic is. Their concern, as one executive engaged in this development told me recently, is that the bigger problem is all of us current-day pilots flying around in our lower-tech airplanes that they have to watch out for …I was surprised by the comment but see he had a point.