All-electric 'Volocopter' makes successful maiden flight
E-volo has successfully flown its VC200 ‘Volocopter’, a vibration-free flying machine driven by 18 electric rotors .
Designed to carry two people, the VC200 is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft that requires no mechanical pitch control of the propellers and is claimed to be safer, simpler, and cleaner than normal helicopters.
The aircraft made its remotely-controlled maiden flight on November 17, 2013 in the dm-arena in Karlsruhe, Germany, and went onto complete nine flight tests that culminated in a flight at nearly 22m.
The E-Volo team says it is aiming for a serial production model capable of a cruising speed of at least 54kn (100km/h), a flight altitude of up to 6,500ft, a maximum take-off weight of 450kg, and over an hour of flight time made possible with a range extender.
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