NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., - Applied eVTOL Concepts in Newport Beach, California, have revealed the design and predicted performance specifications of its wingless Epiphany electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Applied eVTOL Concepts says its aircraft will utilize morphing, dual-mode, ducted thrusters enabling it to hover like a helicopter, and attain efficient high-speed cruise flight like an airplane.
Applied says its thruster technology was originally developed under a $5.1 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) grant, and have been proven effective by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) thrusters, and have undergone over 25 years of refinement through full-scale flight testing in wind tunnels and several prototype manned vehicles. According to Michael Moshier, Founder, CEO and lead designer of Applied eVTOL Concepts. "We have every reason to believe in the ability of our proprietary, field-proven ducted thrusters, and leading-edge vehicle design, to perform in flight as expected."
Applied says the Epiphany has a predicted range of more than 300 miles with a top speed of 160-MPH. Applied also claims an estimated 55 dB when flying at 50-feet above ground level - about the same volume as an electric toothbrush or coffee machine. The company says the Epiphany will be about as large as a Tesla Model S, and can fit into a standard garage with its thrusters folded up.
Applied says the company's focus is on personal eVTOL aircraft for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) using advanced-technology electric motors and batteries. The computational fluid dynamics computer model, developed by Applied chief engineer and senior aerodynamicist Rob Bulaga, has been refined over the last 25 years. "Today, it consistently and accurately predicts our thruster performance within 2% of real-world testing," says Bulaga.
