2002 Wind tunnel test performance proven
Prospects for commercialization of ‘duct-type’ propeller propellers
In SF movies depicting the future, ‘flying cars’ always appear. Even in reality, many people are annoyed by the congested city traffic, and I hope for the appearance of automobiles. However, it is true that it is unlikely to appear in reality easily due to various technical and economic limitations. However, a flying car equipped with a propulsion system certified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) by a private company in the United States is attracting attention as it is scheduled to be put into practical use soon.
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The U.S. Epiphany Transporter recently announced that it plans to commercialize an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flying car in the near future, Space.com, a space media outlet, reported on the 18th (local time).
This flying car can fly at a maximum speed of 258 km/h and produces only 55 decibels (dB) of noise at an altitude of 15 m. Considering that the noise generated when a normal person has a conversation is about 60dB, and when it rains, it is about 50dB.
The most important feature is the ducted propeller thrusters that run forward and backward on either side of the fuselage like wheels. As a result of practicality verification such as a wind tunnel experiment at NASA’s Ames Research Center in 2002, this thruster was proven to produce considerable thrust comparable to that of a jet engine or helicopter-type rotary wing. It also serves to protect the propeller from itself or the outside by wrapping it with a duct. The person in charge of designing this flying car is also a co-author of a related paper published by NASA in 2002. In other words, it has been tested and improved over the past 20 years, and finally put to practical use.
“Equipped with a field-proven propulsion system and state-of-the-art airframe design, we believe it will fly as expected,” said Michael Mosher, the company’s president and chief designer. This flying car consists of two seats and a luggage compartment, and is about the size of Tesla’s electric car Model S. It means that it is perfect for putting it in the garage that American families often have.
However, premature optimism is prohibited. Space.com said, “Even if the flying car’s ducted propulsion was successful in NASA’s wind tunnel test, it does not mean that it will be put into practical use soon.” Engineers are also mixed,” he pointed out. However, the media reported that “it is always a sound engineering practice to build on proven designs” and that “this flying car may eventually turn out to be a ‘real thing’ in the future.”
Reporter Kim Bong-soo bskim@asiae.co.kr
