A California e-bike company is planning an ultralight eVTOL (Part 103 rules) that folds up and slides into a pickup truck bed and costs just less than $40,000. The Rictor CY-4X was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show a couple of weeks ago. As with all things aircraft, the CY-4X’s light weight and low cost come with compromises. The eight-rotor device has a maximum payload of 220 pounds and will fly for 20 minutes or less. But in those few minutes it will take off, fly at 50 mph, and land vertically with what its maker says are lots of redundancies and safety features, including an airframe parachute according to promo material. “By combining a proven multirotor architecture, redundant safety systems, and intelligent flight control, CY-X4 transforms complex flight operations into an intuitive, accessible, and controllable flying experience,” the company says.
Each of the four coaxial power units uses two motors for redundancy and the company says the control system manages power, attitude, and propulsion while it monitors the battery and flight status. It will autonomously take emergency action as warranted. At the heart of it all is the inertial measurement unit that uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to keep everything right side up.
The insurance market with make or break all this stuff.
The insurance market WILL make or break all of this stuff. Can we not edit?
I’m not sure that this thing is even insurable. Being part 103, FAA registration, airworthiness certificate, or pilot licensing is even required.
The short video showed a lot of terrain covered in the 20 minute endurance. How far would you feel comfortable flying over desert or forest with that short battery life?
Anyone who would trust their life to a lightweight machine with arms that fold in and out to allow propellers to unfold with motors that articulate needs to be examined for sanity. We fly mature well made Cirrus airplanes with certificated engines which can glide under control if the engine fails yet we install CAPS systems just to be ‘sure.’ THIS thing has none of that plus a very limited range. We already found out that airplanes made to the Light Sport 1.0 600kg standard were too flimsy. THIS thing makes those early LSA’s seem robust. Fuhgetaboutit. More aviation ‘koolaid.’
“Anyone who would trust their life to a lightweight machine with arms that fold in and out to allow propellers to unfold with motors that articulate needs to be examined for sanity.”
Yeah unfortunately this won’t stop because some sane people realize that it’s dangerous.
It’s kinda like those guys flying and dying in wing suits and nobody has stopped them from killing themselves.
“There are ‘old’ pilots and there are ‘bold’ pilots …,” I might add and there are people with more assets than common sense trying to win the Darwin Award, too …
Good thing the Wright Bros didn’t have your frame of mind. Just sayin’.
Realistically, climb aboard with a 20 minute gas tank. Now, where too? Out 10 and a hurried 10 back? Or fuel waiting at 20 minutes, why and how long to refuel? And the 50 mph will get you out about 16 miles before its over, not factoring in setting up for landing. No. Not yet anyhow. I admire the engineering but for no purpose except a fun realistic 15 minute local flight.
Got that right, in my 50 years of civilian and military flying the only time I landed with 20 minutes of fuel was while flying combat. I will tell you 20 minutes can be a very big pucker factor.
20 minutes? Why are we even talking about this?
Always been my policy to plan for at least one hour’s reserve fuel on board on short final somewhere. So I’m starting with :20 minutes? Well might be fun to scurry around within the confines of the south forty at five feet above the ground? Hmm, for 40K? . . . Nah.
I saw one of those new-fangled “automobiles” yesterday. It only goes about 30 miles before it needs “gasoline,” which will start fires everywhere if it gets loose. It makes a lot of noise, scares the horses. and breaks down a lot. Our town has banned these useless contraptions! I will never spend a penny on one of these ridiculous, dangerous machines!
My point is that you should never bet against the advance of technology!
You and Larry S should get together and have a “safe” cup of coffee.
I have a pilot’s license already, but I’m seriously considering one of these (or a Mosquito XE) just for fun.
20 minutes of flight time, maybe if you are in the middle of a desert this might be of use. This is like EV cars, talk about range anxiety.