AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2022 - 32

BRIEFING
NEWS /
Updates from Aero
European airshow features ambitious, eco-friendly designs
BY THOMAS A. HORNE
EUR OPE ' S PR IME GENER A L aviation-only convention Aero
Friedrichshafen is back, having overcome no small amount of
exhibitor reluctance. The 2022 show counted 623 exhibitors; the
last Aero, in 2019, had 757. Not a bad comeback. Exhibits were
heavy on electric vertical lift and alternative propulsion concepts.
FLIGHT DESIGN HYFLY
European-based Flight Design is already well known for its CT
series of light sport aircraft, plus its new F2 line of certified and
LSA variants, its F2e electrically powered two-seater, and F4 fourseater.
Despite the loss of its Kerson, Ukraine, factory to Russian
invaders, Flight Design has managed to come up with yet another
new project-the Hyfly. The demonstrator looks for all the world
like an F2, but this proof-of-concept design is intended to carry
four to five gallons of hydrogen, giving it an estimated two-hour
endurance. The company expects certification under EASA's
CS-23 rules-the European version of the United States' Part 23.
PIPISTREL
Freshly snatched up by GA giant Textron, Slovenian manufacturer
Pipistrel showed off its latest electrically powered design, the Velis
Electro. In Europe, the Velis Electro is certified under CS-LSA rules,
which allow it to fly at night and under IFR (but not in instrument
conditions). Pipistrel expects FAR Part 23 and LSA approvals in the
United States " soon, " according to Matthias Betsch, Flight Design's
head of new designs and business development.
EMAGIC ONE
This eVTOL is a German design in the proof-of-concept stage. It
has one nose-mounted conventional propeller for cruise flight and
eight boom-mounted props for hovering. First flight of the singleseater
was in May 2021, and the company advertises a two-hour
endurance on a four-hour charge of its front propeller battery and
two-hour charges of its hover-motor batteries. The eMagic One
has a forward canard wing, and a rear, main wing with elevons
(having combined full-span elevator and aileron functions) for
pitch and roll control. Like a helicopter, the aircraft uses collective
lift controls for takeoffs, landings, and other vertical maneuvers. A
two-seater is in the works, and the company believes the American
market holds the most promise in terms of sales, either in the
experimental or special light sport aircraft markets.
ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND
Rolls-Royce bought out Siemens' electric motor division in 2019,
and at this year's Aero the company showed off its product range
32
AOPA PILOT / July 2022
Exciting new aircraft models seen at Aero Friedrichshafen include Flight
Design Hyfly; eMagic One; and H2Fly. Junkers unveiled a tandem twoseat
Rotax-powered A50 (right).
for urban air mobility and regional air mobility, which includes
electric motors, turbogenerators, and control units. Together with
Germany's MTU Aero Engines, the company also manufactures
energy storage and charging units for aircraft and automobiles.
In terms of electric motors for aviation, Rolls-Royce's launch customer
is the United Kingdom's Vertical Aerospace, although it's also
providing an electrical motor for a hybrid power train that uses a
Rotax engine for a new airplane-the HP35-based on the Tecnam
MARK WAGNER
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2022

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