I have only just found this aircraft a short time ago. From what I can see its definitely an aircraft tho it looks more like a flying bathtub. Its a VERY bizarre looking aircraft. BUT HEY, if its works who cares. It certainly looks safe enough. Maybe its my Pilot training that make me uneasy looking at the way it lands, its so damned un-conventional. BUT it is VTOL - Vertical takeoff and Landing. Any aircraft that does this has so many advantages over aircraft that don't.
According to what the promoters say this aircraft has already done 1,400 plus flights and covered 12,000 Kms of distance in those flights.
This is what the say (on the website below):
- We spend too much time confined to a two-dimensional network of concrete and asphalt. The dream of futurists has always been a flying vehicle capable of efficiently moving passengers from A to B.
- Opener is realizing this dream in an affordable, safe, easy-to-operate, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle: BlackFly.
- Opener's BlackFly heralds a new era of aviation. Time and money spent traveling and maintaining infrastructure will be reduced. People will go places they never thought possible.
Motorcycle ...... 80+ dBA
Highway....... 76 dBA
BlackFly........ 72 dBA
Measured at 150 ft
Energy ConsumptionBlackFly 245 Wh/mi
Electric Car 270 Wh/mi
Gasoline Car 1233 Wh/mi
BlackFly Specifications
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Description
Single seat
PAV (Personal Aerial Vehicle)
VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing)
Fixed tandem-wing aircraft
Full electric propulsion
- Classification Ultralight (USA) Basic Ultralight (Canada) Amphibious-capable (freshwater)
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Controls
Joystick, fly-by-wire electrical controls
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Structure
Epoxy-impregnated carbon fiber
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Landing surfaces
Grass, asphalt, snow, ice
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Safety
Triple-modular redundancy
Fault-tolerant design
8 fixed propulsion units
4 redundant elevon pairs
Ballistic parachute (optional)
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Operating conditions
25 mph max wind (take-off and landing)
0 - 30 °C temperature range
Non-precipitating
Up to 6 ft 6 in / 250 lbs (USA)
13 ft 7 in wide
13 ft 5 in long
5 ft high
Performance (Max Take-off Weight) Cruise Speed 62 mph (limited, USA) 80+ mph (Intl) Stall speed 0 mph Max. climb rate 1000 fpm Max. descent rate 1000 fpm Take-off run 36 in Landing distance 36 in
Further YouTube videos :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI8AemQcclY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcpq6XYYoY4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhKTCbbqbaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l53JKod9yfA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jozITRIYLL4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxTlvv6CDTg
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For more information see https://www.opener.aero/
Developing Story
More to Come.