South-african based aircraft manufacturer, Pegasus Universal Aerospace has unveiled its VTOL business jet, The Pegasus One VBJ.
Pegasus Universal Aerospace was founded in 2012 by Dr. Reza Mia to make a small private jet with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability. The conceptual design work for the Pegasus Vertical Business Jet began in 2013.
The Pegasus eVTOL, recently did its hover test flight, —vertical take-offs and landings, it can also offer performance more in line with a turbine propelled bi-wing. Hence its name: the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ).
The key differences are the multiple means of lift,
The airplane uses fans in the wings to provide VTOL and then transitions to forward flight, giving it the speed, range and safety of a fixed wing airplane.
Dr. Reza Mia
The company says the jet will be a six- to eight-seat aircraft that will be powered by 2,330-shp turboshaft engines and travel 4,400 km (2,375 nm) from a runway or 2,124 km (1,146 nm) when taking off in VTOL mode. The company is targeting a cruise speed of 796 km (430 knots).
Pegasus One will be designed to fly for 3.5 to six hours, depending on takeoff configuration. The company claims that operating costs will be competitive with business jets of similar range, but will have lower fuel burn. At the same time, noise levels are expected to be lower than comparative rotary-wing aircraft.
The idea, Pegasus said, is to enable transportation between urban airports, small and unpaved landing zones, yachts, and regular helipads, among other operating locations.
Traditional business aircraft are capable of moving people through the air quickly, but a lot of time is wasted travelling on the ground to and from the airports, which are often located far away from busy financial and residential centres,
Eliminating this time-consuming ground travel often requires the use of a helicopter at each end of a trip, which can be expensive and inconvenient.
Dr. Reza Mia
Pegasus One will be able to access the same locations as a helicopter, but can travel further since it can be propelled like an airplane.
According to Pegasus Universal Aerospace, the aircraft will have four-times the range of a helicopter, and three-times the speed of previous tilt-rotor VTOL airplanes.
The South African company continues to test its vehicle, and says that it is hoping to have the final VBJ certified for regular travel as early as 2025.
