{"id":8211,"date":"2013-09-06T10:07:54","date_gmt":"2013-09-06T17:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=8211"},"modified":"2013-09-06T10:07:54","modified_gmt":"2013-09-06T17:07:54","slug":"even-in-second-place-vc200-dominates-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/even-in-second-place-vc200-dominates-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Even in Second Place, VC200 Dominates Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Volocopter has evolved from a pilot sitting on a Pilates ball surrounded by multiple model airplane motors<\/a> to the VC200 \u2013 the first Volocopter to carry two people<\/a>, according to parent company e-volo<\/a>.\u00a0 As recipient of a 2 million euros grant from the federal ministry of economics and technology, e-volo has worked with a research and industry syndicate to craft the VC200.<\/p>\n

\"GreenTec<\/a>

GreenTec gathering just couldn’t help but notice VC200 hanging overhead<\/p><\/div>\n

A sleeker, more finished-looking project than the original flight vehicle, the VC200 held pride of place 15 meters above the crowd attending the \u201cGreenTec Awards\u201d in Berlin, Europe\u2019s largest environmental and economic prize. \u00a0Completed just in time for the event, and assembled in the auditorium where it received its award, the first prototype of the VC200 was an ever-present reminder of its green credentials.<\/p>\n

\"e-volo<\/a>

e-volo team with GreenTec Award. From left,\u00a0Stephan Wolf, Alexander Zosel, Thomas Senkel<\/p><\/div>\n

Although the little \u201cDavid\u201d company earned a second place award, with \u201cGoliath\u201d Airbus taking top honors, \u201cWe are proud that we are placed tightly behind a global player such as Airbus,\u201d said e-volo-CEO Alexander Zosel: \u201cThe decision of the judges is absolutely comprehensible for us. The soon-to-be-expected CO2 savings through the use of fuel cells in large passenger aircraft is a great thing.\u201d\u00a0 The last sentence refers to Airbus\u2019 use of fuel cell powered auxiliary power units (APUs) in its electric nosewheel taxiing system, and for planned future applications of fuel cells.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kRv6d2Sq_dQ<\/p>\n

Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier shared the makers\u2019 enthusiasm, saying, \u201cThis green aircraft is a perfect blend of German engineering and innovative ingenuity.\u201d\u00a0 Even the hostess for the black-tie ceremony, Nina Eichinger, was moved to comment, \u201cThe Volocopter was the undisputed highlight of the awards show. The Volocopter is not only absolutely novel, it is very stylish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Refreshed from their new-found fame and back at the factory in Bruchsal, the team is concentrating on making the first test flights this year, following structural and endurance tests on the passenger cabin, landing framework and the rotor array, which is a set of cleverly modularized components.\u00a0 The craft will fly with a provisional airworthiness certificate following the tests.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pWVOMMdvvTo<\/p>\n

Test flights at the DG Flugzeugbau (Volocopter\u2019s builders at least partly because of their experience with carbon-fiber airframes) will lead to prototype certification of the VC200 as part of a newly created category of ultralight rotorcraft that can be flown by holders of a private pilot license.<\/p>\n

e-volo aims for the following performance:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • A cruising speed of at least 54 knots (100 kilometers per hour).<\/li>\n
  • A flight altitude of up to 6,500 feet.<\/li>\n
  • A maximum take-off weight of 450 kilograms (990 pounds).<\/li>\n
  • More than one hour flight time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Because current battery technology limits flight time to an anticipated 20 minutes, e-volo is developing a range extender that would use an internal combustion engines in a serial hybrid configuration to power a generator that would supply the craft\u2019s batteries and motors with electricity.\u00a0 In a hoped-for near future, better batteries would allow an hour\u2019s endurance without the complication of mechanical assistance.<\/p>\n

    With a sophisticated control system to control the many rotors and make flying uneventful for novice pilots, software will be as important as hardware in this machine\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

    Traditional helicopters are noisy, precluding their use in projected pocket airparks. \u00a0Zosel explains, \u201cThe noise signature will be lower than a helicopter. But we don\u2019t have a serious measure of the whole system setup of the VC200. \u00a0We will do that after our maiden flight….\u201c<\/p>\n