April 14, 2022
More people rely on air travel today than ever before, but that reliance often results in congested airports and heavy traffic. Passengers spend more time waiting in an airport than on the actual flight. To streamline air travel, we need a practical solution to benefit airlines and passengers alike.
At Odys Aviation, we’re at the forefront of this solution. We believe vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are the future of flight. Though some VTOL aircraft are powered by electric batteries, our hybrid VTOL is the answer for people looking to travel sustainably and efficiently.
At Odys Aviation, we’re at the forefront of this solution. We believe vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are key to the future of flight.
Many VTOL aircraft are powered by electric batteries (eVTOL), but they suffer from distinct limitations. Overcoming these limitations, our hybrid VTOL propulsion system is the answer for sustainable aviation. It’s a win for passengers, communities, airlines, and the environment.
Like electric cars, eVTOLs run entirely on battery-electric propulsion and produce zero CO2 emissions in operation. However, much of their battery power is used up by the energy it takes to ascend vertically. Because of battery density limitations, they can’t pack more power into the battery without adding adequate safeguards, which increase the battery’s size and weight.
As a result, eVTOL ranges are limited to short distances that are generally better served with an electric car. Passenger capacity in battery-electric VTOL is also lacking, generally with fewer seats than a car or SUV.
The Odys Aviation hybrid-electric VTOL uses hybrid-electric propulsion powered by sustainable aviation fuel, thereby achieving range, capacity, speed, and altitude performance comparable with traditional jets of a similar size, all with 76% less carbon emissions.
Most eVTOL aircraft can fly up to 25 to 60 miles, which is far less than the range of most electric cars. If eVTOL can’t outpace electric ground transportation, they will prove an insufficient option for passengers and airlines alike.
Our hVTOL aircraft has a range of up to 750 miles. We’re capable of flying passengers on short hops, subregional routes, regional routes, and international routes. This exceptional range optionality.
In comparison, an eVTOL aircraft would only be functional to take passengers on short-hop flights. While this could be enough for urban travel, it limits passengers’ and airlines’ ability to rely on eVTOLs for longer flights, whereas our hVTOL gives passengers and airlines more flexibility.
eVTOLs are limited in their passenger capacity. The largest models can carry a few passengers at a time, whereas smaller models like air taxis carry even less. To support enough people, this would mean having hundreds or thousands of eVTOLs in one urban area, making the skies as crowded as the roads are today.
Our hVTOL can carry nine passengers and two pilots. This passenger capacity is similar to a regional jet of the same size, matching traditional aircraft capabilities while reducing carbon emissions.
Similar to its limited range, an eVTOL’s flight speed and cruising altitude are limited by its battery. Much of its battery’s power is used up in the vertical ascent, so it’s less practical for an eVTOL to achieve a speed and altitude comparable to a traditional aircraft. The eVTOL would only be able to maintain that speed and altitude for a limited range before descent.
Our hVTOL has a maximum flight speed of 345 miles per hour and a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet. Both these factors are comparable to a business jet of similar size and capacity. We maintain competitive speed and altitude so our passengers get to their destination quickly and safely — all while still leaving a smaller carbon footprint.
To replace fuel-burning commuter planes, VTOL aircraft need sustainable range, passenger capacity, flight speed, and cruising altitude. eVTOLs don’t have the capacity for longer flights or the passenger accommodations to make urban travel practical.
In comparison, our hVTOL’s features match those of commuter planes. Both passengers and operators will feel comfortable and safe with our design, which functions using mechanisms operators are already comfortable using.
eVTOLs have an advantage on environmental benefits over hVTOLs — at first. Because eVTOLs don’t emit CO2 for their entire flight, they’re much more environmentally friendly than traditional aircraft. But their battery limitations mean their inability to fly long ranges prevents them from being more viable options for the future of air travel.
Our hVTOL uses sustainable aviation fuel and battery electric power to run. For our longer flights, we use the most environmentally friendly fuel possible to reduce CO2 emissions. And for flights under 200 miles, we complete the trip entirely on battery electric power, eliminating CO2 emissions for those flights. Even when we’re traveling over 200 miles, our hVTOL reduces CO2 emissions by 76% compared to a regional jet of the same size.
For all these reasons and more, we believe hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft should be the focus of future air travel. It’s environmentally friendly and maintains a practical, accessible appeal to both passengers and airlines. By taking advantage of its hybrid characteristics, we’re able to create an aircraft that considers the environment while keeping practicality as a top priority.
We’ve created a next-gen design for our aircraft that’s reminiscent of traditional planes while capturing a sleek, streamlined look for the future. Our goal has always been to improve access to better travel for everyone. We believe our hVTOL is the ideal avenue to communicate that to the world. To find out more about how Odys can reduce that dreaded aerial commute, visit our website today!
Follow Odys Aviation as we continue test flights, earn type-certification, and change the way that the world travels.
Follow the Odys Aviation team as we continue test flights, earn type-certification, and change the way that the world travels. Stay in the loop as we take to the skies.
