Wow, I really appreciate the amount of detail you get into on these videos, your channel is binge-worthy stuff. Best channel on electric aviation out there.
I love this aircraft. I wish it will make it to launch without much design change. Just needs range. A two seat would be great. Very cool. I hope it doesn’t disappear.
Amazing, that is the first electric air vehicle that looks "feasable" as to really change the game. Simple design, cheap to build, energy efficient, lightweight. Brilliant. Thanks for this well put together video.
Thanks for the presentation; I believe that the potential range of this aircraft would greatly increase with a 20-30 % increase in span. Leave the propulsers where they are currently located and extend the wing outboard from there.
Fantastic overview. Really smart design of the craft as well. Simple but effective. Apart from the awkward tilt when hovering for landing/takeoff, this has to be one of the most promising designs I have seen.
Thank you so much for covering this; so insightful! Truly grateful for the RU-vid algorithms to have had me stumble upon your channel. Looking forward to more exciting, enticing content, 🍻!
Typically on a canard aircraft the front wing or canard has a slightly higher angle so that it looses lift first and provides nose down correction preventing the main wing from also loosing lift. A smiliar way could be a different airfoil or perhaps both. I like this design since once flying forward the engines are less critical since the wings provide the lift and it is flying like a airplane.
That was a spectacular video. Your ability to convey all of the complexities while keeping an informative and unbiased demeanor is stunning. Ever consider doing the news?
Great video, I’ve been fascinated by this design. It just makes sense. Have been hungry for more information about black fly and your video filled that void, thank yoy
Could you please make a specific video on Ehang? 🙏 being the closest company to actually being given the airworthiness certification (in China) and probably the pioneers in the sector at the moment, and if you could make a video on a summary comparison between Ehang, Joby, Wisk, Archer and Lilium? I would like to thank you very much for your efforts and great content, keep up the good work 🙏👏
That would be a decent project for someone else to do a "comparison" video - side-by-side - comparing designs, motors, body, electrical system, control system, Fly-by-wire or direct control with wireless remote backup options, and so on... That would be an interesting video. Oh, and of course, cost of operation, maintenance requirements, FAA cert's, etc. Someone, make it happen LOL.
@@ElectricAviation I find it difficult to believe the Eh-216 with its low rotors could pass EASA certification for passengers. How can it be safe in an urban environment? Emergancy landing and bystanders turned into salami. Passengers need to escape from battery fire, more salami. No parachute. What do you think? Great channel btw. Thanks.
I'm confident that the Blackfly will be our first intro into individual flight. My only contention is that the noise-level. We're still playing around with fighting gravity. Until then, it's gonna be loud. But freeing, nonetheless.
Well constructed and informative. Really exciting technology. Keep up the passion. Progress on systems, motors and especially, batteries, must inevitably follow. Have fun Team
The Blackfly is by far my favorite , because its kind of affordable great design , wonderfull belly , energy efficient and looks like great fun to fly , it makes total sense , now the waiting is for the actual release date , even for a relatively simple model like this it takes many many years , and the updates given by the company are very little in number since 2018
Agreed. There's so many, WAY TOO MANY vtol designs which are just fantasy CAD. Slapping more motors, gear boxes, linkages, torque tubes, transformer features, more complexity doesn't make it more likely to be a good airplane. This here is a simple design, it's main innovation being to slope the layout about half-way with a curved belly, so it can be both at the same time. That's genius design and eliminates fancy features.
@@sloth6765 Fantasy CAD haha. I guess that is true, this design is by far the simplest and most "feasible" of what I've seen. Very few moving parts to manufacture and assemble here. You basically just need a few molds to build the carbon composite body using vacuum infusion. The rest is no more complex as a DIY quad copter drone. Just bigger motors and battery and presumably some smarter sensors, electronics and programming. But this looks like it could be mass produced for like 10-20k. It's kind of less complex than a velomobile or a car. Just amazing design!
She's a beaut. Marvelous ultra-light aircraft combined with its ingenius simplicity of design. Makes you want to fly one--if the bureaucrats can catch up with some sensible regulations planning. Crowded skies here we come...
Thank you for a very good description of the aircraft... and a good video I think the way they have designed the aircraft it's very cool as they just need to control the motor speed to roll pitch and yaw.. the take off seems to be like a camel ride.. where you are thrown to front while camel is standing up.. here we would be put in the back.. I think this would be an inconvenience for people that like simple flights.. Also I think this vehicles power delivery system is pretty good as the weight is distributed and present in the wing of the aircraft..
Being thrown forward would be inconvenient, but I'd think not backwards. It would feel more like a rocket launch where you are pressed into your seat. It's probably going to be something that people like and enjoy. Just speculation since I'm not a pilot.
Intuitively, I think the spread out of motors to four wings changes things around. And also, the rear and front wing might together stear the air moving over them as of there were only one wing. But I'm only guessing..
@Richard Wood Yes, your right. I wouldnt want to use it as a glider! I think when the rear wings motors are working they pull and lift like a parachute and if they were to stop it would be like having a net as a parachute! Resulting in a drop to the ground. If there were no pulling between front and rear wing it would be a terrible flight experience with rear part not wanting to remain rear part! Anyways, just speculations from a novis in aviation.
Have you heard anything about this new patent that would supposedly make it possible to use autorotation for smaller multirotor evtols. It shoots extra air into the rotors wich then gives the extra lift for a safe landing in an event of emergency. The air would be contained highly compressed in a container/tank which will add some weight. I thought the idea was really cool though since lack of autorotation is the highest safety concern with these evtols crafts, except with Jaunt Airs ROSA design.
The specs on the "Blackfly USA Version" match the requirements for "FAA Part 103" (Ultralight), no license required. - the American definition of an Ultralight. The specs on the "Blackfly International Version" match the requirements for "FAA Light Sport Aircraft" (LSA), less expensive training than a regular pilot license and no medical required. With this in mind I think we are looking at 2 variants of the Blackfly to be sold in the USA, an Ultralight Version and a LSA Version.
Ultralight regulations allow for additional weight for water float and a safety parachute. They don't count in the weight limit of 254 lbs. Might help some.
very impressive. Would it add that much weight to add conical bird deflecting screens in front of the props? What happens if a murmuration of starlings comes out of nowhere?
Yet another fabulous overview and thank you for making it. As I've said before, there are things that concern me for the future of my kids, but your work showcases areas of great potential, excitement and hope for the years ahead. Many regards from Sydney, Aust - Dave
Very informative and clearly you have a good understanding of both Aeronautics and science communication. Would you be able to make a video focusing on efficiency innovations, summarising the differnt innovations from various manufacturers (would be great to include the Celera 500L with its theorhetical electric version). To give us a sense of scale, would be great to make a comparison based on wh/km per person, starting with a 737, 878, then each electric aircraft and showing the Wh reduction achieved from each innovation
I like this VTOL BlackFly very light electric aircraft's design and principle of flight. And it is extremely simple instead of complex, light weight, and with wings thus extending its range and speed while able to land on any surface including water. It is a superior idea and design compared to anything I've seen including some more futuristic looking designs. The price should reflect it's simplicity.
They have figured out how to manufacture these and I believe are producing one every day. I think you may be able to increase battery storage if you're a licensed pilot.😀
Lots of potential but most companies fail, and even tesla took many years to be profitable. Well have to see what aircraft will actually survive in the market.
No its not a dumb question. Triple junction solar cells can increase the range but not by that much. The reason is small wing area of 8 sq meter. You can generate 3.2 kW peak with them on the Blackfly
All In on the Blackfly for it's ability to (maybe) lift off and dodge some sort of e=mc squared event; but I'm afraid that even GM's EV1 would have been more energy efficient, when you compare Payload to Payload. (Also not Entirely Sure that it is very "sound stealthy." The engineers likely think of that as "a Work in Progress.")
How does this dog do in high winds, heavy rain /snow and extreme temperatures? I’ll be watching on the sidelines when that crumpled ball of fiberglass slams into the side of a foggy mountain or building. Wow that was a loud one.
The batteries and ESC are right in the airflow of the propellers, so maximum air cooling is possible. I suspect the reason it has the amphibious capability is to qualify for the ultralight category which allows a higher weight for amphibious planes to include the floats. Since the whole fuselage is a float, it easily qualifies. I think the simplicity of operation, redundant safety measures and performance of this vehicle makes it the top contender for a commuter vehicle. I also like the simplicity of construction and compactness as well. They say it will be comparable in cost to an SUV, so I imagine somewhere in the $70k-$90k range.
Ive been following BlackFly since its introduction, its the most doable cos of its design and mechanism. Compared to other flying cars ive seen that looks cumbersome because of their complicated designs and multiple big rotors. BlackFly is the most logical doable simplest design there is. Im still dying waiting for it to be available to the market. Its just sad that they still not selling it. I hate waiting lol
@@ElectricAviation i never thought of the batteries, but yaj that might be the reason while BlackFly isnt on the market yet, but im so excited i want one now lol
i mean it is super cool and i would love to fly one but have you heard how loud this thing is. there is no way these things can take off in a neighborhood.. I think the future of most of these types of flying machines is going to be restricted to small hub to hub transport flying between city centers and a heliport in the suburbs. it would be cool but with that comes other headaches.
I used to live next door to 2 estates with private helicopters. One of them commuted to work with his chopper every day. I hated him. I used to go to bed really late and he would wake me up every morning. These things might not be as noisy as choppers bet in a town environment it would be a nightmare. Most people can't drive imagine them trying to fly.
@@michaelmurphy6687 I agree with you on hub to hub. A hub in every town and airports and some other popular destinations. Those willing to pay could fly there instead of taking a train or a taxi. Maybe one day we will have quiet personal flying crafts but not any time soon.
Love the simple, efficient design. Is ironic, though, that we hobbyist drone fliers, with our tiny plastic flying things have to get a license, but this thing you don't! ?? Just highlights the drone-related hysteria out there.
not sure why can't they try Hydrogen/ Fuel Cell systems since it has a far higher Energy Density and its Drone versions are already in the market for Dams and Power Line inspections because of its longer ranges. H2/Fuel cell systems are also scalable and can carry heavier pay loads.
Give it an inflatable belly so it can land on hard surfaces. Can even fill it with helium to give it some lift assistance. I'd like to see a design like that use a gyrocopter rotor so it could autorotate down to the ground during a power failure, and assist in lift as well to save energy.
The belly acts as kind of a wheel I guess. Like a huge wheel for landing but the wheel can only turn like a 6th while the blackfly lands. So while landing the vertical bump can be transformed into a rolling motion and then cushioned by the rotors and clever software. My guess is that the blackfly just needs very sensitive landing computer and a rubberized or very tough surface coating on the belly. Something like UHMWPE (cutting board) or aramid / kevlar to land on asphalt. And if it wears off that part can be fixed. PS: On power failure I guess you pop off the canopy and flap with your arms to steer the vehicle haha
I love this design no extra weight of tilling or landing gear if it could get a longer range maybe with a hydrogen fuel cell or better batteries in the future it would be better than driving a car to go somewhere .
Prop tip speed is a big factor in the noise level. High torque motor can turn the props at lower RPM's. Somewhere on the Opener website is a noise chart. Quieter than a car on the highway. www.opener.aero/
@@montanalrl6622 measured from where? Under the front wheel? They compare it like this to make it seem quiet. It's going to be freaking LOUD in order to deal with all this energy.
@@ChadKovac If you don't believe thier website, not my problem. Of course I assume their are talking about level flight not take-off or landing. Like I said prop tip spped is a big factor in noise level. Usually the way they solve that is a bigger diameter prop that has higher pitch and less RPM's. Also electric motors are much quieter than an internal combustion engine.
@@montanalrl6622 my only experience is the sound of a quadcopter or drone. If you look for silent quad, you'll see what quiet means in terms of prop design. The props are still really damn loud. Engine/motor sounds excluded. I wonder if we could get some clever person to create a scale down version of this to play around with? Looks mad fun and I hope to get a chance to fly one!
@@ChadKovac If they had a reduction drive and a higher pitched props that alone would reduce the noise by a large amount by the decreased prop tip speed. Or another option is to use a higher torque motor (with higher ptiched props) and run it at lower RPM's. Prop tip speed is a huge factor in noise reduction. The reduction drives would add weight and complications and reduce reliability so they go with the tailored electric motors. The model airplane type propellor sometimes goes supersonic but it doesn't have to go that fast to be obnoxiously loud. I don't have a number for you but something like 450 feet per second is getting up there into the high noise.
Do you have a patreon account? I really want to support the awesome work of this tiny but growing channel, but there was no information or link as how to do so.
245Wh/mi at 62mph is 15kW power consumption at cruise speed. Reduce the size of the battery pack and put in a 15kW combustion engine with a generator and you will have a far more practical vehicle with much longer range and the ability to refuel in 5 minutes.
This would be a good drone for transporting materials and equipment to remote locations, thinking of replacing helicopter deliveries reducing costs for customers.
