US start-up XTI Aircraft has switched to hybrid-electric propulsion for its planned TriFan 600 ducted-fan, vertical take-off and landing business aircraft.
XTI has teamed with fellow Denver, Colorado-based company Bye Aerospace to develop the new system, which replaces the TriFan 600’s Honeywell HTS900 twin-turboshaft engines, gearboxes and driveshafts with a turbine-driven generator, batteries and motor.
XTI chief executive Robert LaBelle says the new propulsion system will “significantly reduce” the weight and cost of producing the aircraft.
XTI Aircraft
“Our first prototype will be a full-size TriFan 600, instead of the 65% sub-scale version [that was originally planned],” adds La Belle, who was appointed in February. He replaces former chief executive Jeff Pino, who was killed in 2016 when his North American P-51D Mustang crashed in Pinal County, Arizona.
LaBelle joins from AgustaWestland North America and had previous involvement with the AW609 tiltrotor programme.
The programme is being financed by XTI founder and managing director David Brody, crowdfunding stakeholders and private equity investors.
Described as “having the speed, range and comfort of a business jet with the ability to take-off and land vertically, like a helicopter”, the TriFan 600 is a six-seat, aircraft with fly-by-wire controls. Its two ducted wing-fans are designed to tilt to achieve forward flight, with a projected cruise speed of 330kt (650km/h) and range of more than 1,500nm (2,780km), says XTI.
Source: Flight International
