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January 20, 2022

Lockheed Venture Arm Invests in Electra

eSTOL Company Expects Full-Scale Demonstrator Later This Year

Electra.aero has received an investment during its Series A funding round from the venture arm of Lockheed Martin, which will be used to support the company's plans to fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft for their hybrid eSTOL technology. The prototype is hoped to take flight sometime in 2022, pending successful ground tests of the propulsion system. “Electra’s technical approach to sustainable aviation is differentiated, and we are excited to see this concept mature,” said Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures.

Light, Compact Rotary Engine Tested in UK MoD, USAF UAV Project

Advanced Innovative Engineering (AIE) has announced the development of its newest small UAV propulsion system, showing a compact, lightweight Wankel engine. AIE demonstrated the capability of its 38 HP rotary engine, the AIE 225CS - standing for, in the tradition of engine design, a bevy of abbreviations. The 'CS' in the name stands for Compact SPARCS, which itself is another abbreviation for 'Self Pressurizing Air Rotor Cooling System'. The rotary engine could use the appreciation of its lightweight, smooth design, and the UAV industry seems uniquely prepared for its benefits.

Horizon Aero and Blainjett to Demonstrate Flying Prototype of Level-Flight, Tailless eVTO

"Hoverbikes" seem to be the fad of the year, amid a rapidly growing aerial mobility market inundated with every possible combination of tadpole inspired fuselage designs packed with as many rotors as the battery packs can stand. Those smaller, hungrier startups have to differentiate themselves from the pack somehow, and if recent announcements are pointing north, then being the first to market a flying motorcycle is a reliable way to get eyes on a project. Sure, much like terrestrial motorcycles they forego a measure of wind protection, crash survivability, and passenger comfort, but marketers know that purely logical purchase decisions are few and far betwee