Nuuva V300
Role eVTOL cargo aircraft
National origin Slovenia
Manufacturer Pipistrel
Introduction 2023 (announced)
Status In development (2020)

The Pipistrel Nuuva V300 is an unmanned hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft currently under development by Pipistrel and projected to be released in 2023.[1] The aircraft has eight electric motors driving propellers providing lift as well as a single internal combustion engine driving a propeller providing thrust. The company claims that the aircraft will be able to operate with a typical cargo weight of 300 kg (661 lb) and a typical range of 300 km (162 nmi).[2] In October 2020 the company announced that the aircraft would implement a Honeywell fly-by-wire system.[3]

Design and development

The aircraft is a tandem wing design, with the rear wing of a larger wingspan than the front one. Both wings are attached to a fuselage, which features a large front door on the nose to access the internal 3 m3 (110 cu ft) cargo hold and an internal combustion engine with a pusher propeller at the rear end.

A pair of booms, one at each side of the aircraft, connect both wings and serve primarily to support eight electric engines intended for vertical propulsion. Each electric engine turns a 2-blade propeller.

In October 2020 the company announced that the aircraft would implement a Honeywell fly-by-wire system with triple redundancy for the autonomous flight control of the vehicle.[3] The flight itself would be autonomous but managed remotely by a ground-based operator.[2]

Pipistrel is planning for the Nuuva V300 to enter service in the second half of 2023. A smaller variant, the Nuuva V20, is expected to start operating as early as 2021 and would carry payloads of up to 20 kg (44 lb).[1]

Specifications

Data from manufacturer.[2] and eVTOL News[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: none
  • Capacity: up to 460 kg (1,010 lb) of cargo on 3 euro-pallets
  • Length: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 23 m2 (250 sq ft)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 81 L (21 US gal) typical, 410 L (110 US gal) maximum, MOGAS, AVGAS or car gasoline
  • Powerplant: 1 × internal combustion aircraft engine
  • Powerplant: 8 × Pipistrel E-811 electric engine, powered by lithium batteries
  • Propellers: 2-bladed vertical lift units

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph, 119 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 165 km/h (102 mph, 89 kn)
  • Range: 300 km (190 mi, 160 nmi) with 300 kg of payload
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 3 m/s (590 ft/min)

Avionics

  • Honeywell compact fly-by-wire system[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Bertorelli, Paul (1 September 2020). "Pipistrel Announces Hybrid Electric Cargo eVTOL". AVweb. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nuuva V300 – Pipistrel Aircraft". Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Honeywell Supplies Fly-By-Wire System For Cargo Drone | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Pipistrel Nuuva V300". evtol.news. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
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