Light electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Pivotal, formerly known as Opener, has started selling Helix, the company’s first scalable production aircraft.
The Helix is the company’s fourth-generation platform and is modeled after the company’s preproduction BlackFly. The single-seat Helix also has fixed rotors and tandem wings, and controls flight by independently varying the speed of the rotors, much like a consumer drone. It is designed to fly under FAR Part 103 as an ultralight aircraft. The aircraft battery holds 8 kilowatt-hours on a full charge, which gives it more than a 20-mile range with a 20-percent reserve. The Helix has a cruise speed of 55 knots, and a maximum climb and descent rate of 500 feet per minute. The aircraft is designed to disassemble and fit into a 16-foot trailer. It can be assembled and ready to fly in 30 minutes.
The Helix is capable of auto-takeoff and landing, and features flight envelope protection and position hold in hover. The aircraft doesn’t have traditional landing gear, which allows it to land on a variety of surfaces. With its amphibious hull and floats the Helix is capable of emergency landings on water. If all else fails, it is equipped with a ballistic airframe parachute.
The Helix is only available to fly in the United States. The FAA classifies the Helix as a Part 103 ultralight aircraft, meaning no pilot certificate is required. As an ultralight, the Helix may not be operated over congested areas or near airports.
The Helix is the company’s fourth-generation platform and is modeled after the company’s preproduction BlackFly. The single-seat Helix also has fixed rotors and tandem wings, and controls flight by independently varying the speed of the rotors, much like a consumer drone. It is designed to fly under FAR Part 103 as an ultralight aircraft. The aircraft battery holds 8 kilowatt-hours on a full charge, which gives it more than a 20-mile range with a 20-percent reserve. The Helix has a cruise speed of 55 knots, and a maximum climb and descent rate of 500 feet per minute. The aircraft is designed to disassemble and fit into a 16-foot trailer. It can be assembled and ready to fly in 30 minutes.
The Helix is capable of auto-takeoff and landing, and features flight envelope protection and position hold in hover. The aircraft doesn’t have traditional landing gear, which allows it to land on a variety of surfaces. With its amphibious hull and floats the Helix is capable of emergency landings on water. If all else fails, it is equipped with a ballistic airframe parachute.
The Helix is only available to fly in the United States. The FAA classifies the Helix as a Part 103 ultralight aircraft, meaning no pilot certificate is required. As an ultralight, the Helix may not be operated over congested areas or near airports.
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