Award-Winning, 33-Propeller Aircraft Impresses Judges and Buyers

Japanese aerospace concern teTra (teTra Aviation Co. Ltd) is a Tokyo-based start-up engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company was founded in 2018 and, only two-years later, won the prestigious Pratt and Whitney Disruptor Prize at the Boeing-sponsored GoFly competition in San Francisco.

In July 2021 teTra unveiled its Mk-5, a one-passenger eVTOL aircraft featuring tandem wings, rear-wing winglets, a single vertical tail-stabilizer, and a fixed, tricycle undercarriage. The Mk-5 is powered by 33-thrust-assemblies contained in 17- quasi-cylindrical pods. Each of the vehicle’s four wing-sections is underslung with four pods. Every pod comprises two, vertically-mounted propellers. The remaining pod is mounted longitudinally at the vehicle’s aft, and sports a larger, single, pusher-propeller.

In vertical flight, the aircraft utilizes the 32 underwing-propellers. Thrust for forward flight is provided by the single pusher-prop. The lack of tilt-propellers reduces the Mk-5’s weight, complexity, and cost, and facilitates its 260 km/h (162 mph) cruise speed, one-hour flight-time, and 260 km (162 m) range.

The safety of Mk-5 pilots and cargo is augmented by Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), a feature which ensures the failure of one or more thrust-assemblies will be compensated for by the remaining, operable thrust-assemblies. Though sustained flight under partial-power is not feasible, the DEP system allows for safe, controlled landing of the Mk-5.

Since the aircraft’s unveiling at AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, teTra asserts it has received orders for both the SN3 (unmanned) and SN4 (manned) iterations of the Mk-5. The company plans to have subject models delivered by the end of 2022.

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