altovolo’s hybrid eVTOL sigma can take off from homes

tilting electric jet for altovolo’s hybrid eVTOL sigma

AltoVolo unveils Sigma, a hybrid and personal eVTOL that can take off from homes instead of vertiports and terminals. The aircraft needs no public infrastructure to fly, the startup says, because the team designs it for point-to-point locations. Owners can also land it on surfaces including driveways, rooftops, and yachts. On the exterior, the patent-pending tilting electric jet propulsion system is visible. The design allows AltoVolo’s hybrid eVTOL Sigma to use the high power output of batteries for takeoff and landing while relying on liquid fuel for extended flight range.

The aircraft comes with safety features, including the ability to maintain stable flight following the failure of one jet propulsion unit. If one of the jets fails, the ballistic parachute system gets activated, especially during emergency situations. Design-wise, the airframe has a width of 4.8 meters and a total weight of 980 kilograms. The cabin can accommodate up to three passengers. The startup says that the size and weight specification of the aircraft supports both urban and intercity air travel applications. AltoVolo’s hybrid eVTOL Sigma plans to begin operating in 2025.

all images courtesy of AltoVolo

Personal aircraft that has a hover time of 15 minutes

For the specs buffs, the aircraft has a flight range of 500 miles and is capable of reaching a cruise speed of 220 miles per hour. The startup believes that its noise emissions are reduced by over 80 percent compared to conventional helicopters, courtesy of the hybrid-electric propulsion system that uses tilting jet engines for flight. Because of this, owners can use it in areas with noise sensitivity and limits, including residential zones.

At the present time, AltoVolo is developing Sigma as a point-to-point transport aircraft for independent travel. The design and engineering of the Sigma have been reviewed and validated by Dr. Richard E. Brown of Sophrodyne Aerospace. The startup uses simulation tools from Ansys, a provider of engineering software also used by Formula 1 teams. At the moment, the startup has completed the first flight test of the scale prototype of Sigma. The next step is production of a full-scale demonstrator, with the autonomous flight systems supplied by the company Embention.

AltoVolo unveils Sigma, a hybrid and personal eVTOL

AltoVolo’s hybrid eVTOL Sigma to begin operations in 2025

In terms of performance, the aircraft has a hover time of 15 minutes and a payload capacity of 270 kilograms. Its top speed is 290 miles per hour, and the hybrid powertrain allows for a range of up to 510 miles. For the electric-only mode, the maximum range is 260 miles. So far, the estimated noise level during takeoff is between 65 and 70 decibels measured at 100 meters.

Then, the maximum flight ceiling is 10,000 feet, or approximately 3,050 meters. The safety features include a ballistic parachute with a deployment altitude of 50 feet. The vehicle also uses thrust vectoring for flight stability and has a triple-redundant control system for operational reliability. AltoVolo’s hybrid eVTOL Sigma plans to begin its operations in 2025.

the aircraft can accommodate up to three passengers