Blueprint

GENERAL AVIATION

Fan-in-wing hybrid revealed

French start-up Ascendance Flight Technologies has revealed Atea, a concept for a fiveseat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft that features ducted fans in the wings. The ‘lift and cruise’ aircraft would have a range of 400km, with carbon emissions reduced by 80% and a fourfold reduction in noise. Testing is set to begin in 2023, followed by a demo flight at the Paris Olympics in 2024 with the goal of certification in 2025.

Specifications

Passengers 4 (plus pilot)
Height 4.7m
Range 400+km
Endurance up to 2hr

Fast turnaround

Using a hybrid-electric propulsion system that reduces CO₂ emissions by 80%, Ascendance says that the Atea would be able to be turned around in 10mins. The modular system is also compatible with SAF or future hydrogen power options.

Other missions

As well as air taxi/shuttle missions, Ascendance forsees a wider range of applications, including EMS, medevac, sightseeing or surveillance and patrol.

Quiet ducted fans

Atea uses eight ducted fans in its wings to provide redundancy in the vertical flight mode. Ducted fans, says the company, means the aircraft will be four times quieter than a conventional helicopter, unlocking the potential of flights closer to cities and populated centres.

Forward thrust

Nose and tail-mounted propellers would provide thrust in horizontal flight, giving an endurance of up to two hours.