CycloTech 750-lb CycloRotor-Powered eVTOL Targets a 2025 Launch

Austrian aerospace company CycloTech has announced its plans to develop a demonstrator eVTOL to showcase its advanced propulsion system designed for electric flight. The company aims to unveil its “BlackBird” flying car by the end of this year, with test flights anticipated in early 2025.

CycloTech has spent years perfecting its CycloRotors—unique 360-degree thrust-vectoring propulsion barrels that allow for precise directional control in any orientation. This latest, seventh-generation propulsion technology is particularly suited for flying cars, as it can adjust thrust strength and direction continuously along a full 360-degree path, making it ideal for versatile maneuvering.

BlackBird: Compact Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft

The BlackBird design will feature six CycloRotors, allowing it to take off and land vertically, perform parallel parking, and decelerate or brake mid-flight. According to the preliminary schematic, BlackBird will resemble the company’s 2023 CruiseUp concept but will be more compact, measuring approximately 16 feet (4.9 meters) in length, 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) in width, and 6.5 feet (2 meters) in height. With a maximum take-off weight of 750 pounds (340 kilograms), the aircraft is expected to reach a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h).

Advanced Six-CycloRotor Design Enables Precise Control and Smooth Passenger Experience with Built-in Redundancy

The six CycloRotor configuration, with two rotors running along the vehicle’s length, allows for lateral and reverse movement, as well as mid-air braking—all without requiring the vehicle to tilt or bank. This setup ensures a smooth passenger experience, even in varied air conditions, and offers redundancy in case one rotor fails.

Though BlackBird isn’t quite ready for display, CycloTech is eager to continue development with its new demonstrator. Since 2021, the company has completed over 800 test flights with its first-generation demonstrator, a smaller model weighing 183 pounds (83 kg) and equipped with four CycloRotors. In February, CycloTech raised $21.8 million (€20 million) in funding, propelling it closer to taking BlackBird into the skies early next year.

Details about BlackBird’s interior space and battery range remain limited, but if it aligns with the CruiseUp concept, it may offer two seats and a range of around 62 miles (100 km), positioning it more as a personal flying vehicle than a commercial air taxi.

In the broader landscape of eVTOL development, CycloTech faces competition from other ambitious companies aiming to bring flying cars to market. For instance, Joby Aviation recently secured $500 million in funding from Toyota and completed a demonstration flight in Japan. As these projects progress, the future of aviation could soon resemble the futuristic visions of flying cars we once saw in shows like The Jetsons.

Read Original Article: New Atlas

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