PLANA HEVTOL Scaled Aircraft
The current active development of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) systems is focused on electrified distributed propulsion systems. However, due to the low energy density of current battery technology, fully electric UAMs are likely to have significantly lower cruise ranges compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered aircraft.
Similar to hybrid cars, PLANA aims to develop a short to medium-range hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (HEVTOL) passenger aircraft and its supporting ecosystem. The aircraft is operated by one pilot and can be configured for four passengers, six passengers, or it can have its seats removed for air cargo service. With its hybrid powertrain system utilizing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), the aircraft will produce 80% fewer emissions compared to conventional helicopters. The estimated cruise speed for the aircraft is 300 km/h (186 mph), with a maximum speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) and a range of 563 km (350 miles).
Scaled AAM Demonstrator ‘Eclipse’
'Eclipse' is the code name for the ⅕ scale demonstrator of PLANA’s Hybrid-EVTOL AAM. It features a fully carbon fiber composite (CFC) monocoque body and is currently undergoing rigorous testing of its flight control system and aerodynamic characteristics in preparation for full-scale aircraft development. I played a key role in the actual fabrication of the aircraft, being responsible for the CNC fabrication of its CFC airframes and designing assembly jigs.
Client
PLANA
Year
2023
Carbon Fiber Composite
Aircraft Fabrication Lab
I took a lead role in supervising the construction of a 10,000 square foot fabrication lab equipped with industry-standard machinery for manufacturing carbon fiber composite aircraft, including an autoclave, CNC router, and cutting machines.
Real-Scale Wood Mockups For User-Experience Evaluation
Creating a real-scale (1:1) wood mockup used to be a standard procedure in aircraft development within the aviation industry. This was done to ensure that engineers and designers had an accurate sense of scale for both mechanical components and spatial layout. With the advent of computer-aided design and virtual reality devices, this practice seems less essential than it once was. However, there is still a sense of reality that only a physical true-scale model can convey. This is especially important for passenger aircraft, where the cabin layout is more about user experience design than engineering.
I led the entire design and fabrication of three different real-scale wood mockups for PLANA’s HEVtol aircraft. The first version was created to measure the true volume and size of the aircraft as it would be manufactured according to the design. The second version was designed to be integrated with a panoramic display and a flight simulator system to provide the pilot with a more immersive and realistic experience, while also serving as an iconic centerpiece for guests at the company's investment events. The third version features more than 20 actuated surfaces to research differences in user experiences in relation to the changing spatial constraints of the aircraft.
The Original BFM (Big Fxxking Mockup):
The very first rough prototype, built over a weekend, using $500 worth of oriented strand board (OSB).
BFM V2 is constructed with more durable birch plywood on a movable steel frame,
featuring added details for the cockpit, passenger cabin, and cargo compartment.
The mockup is integrated with a panoramic projector screen and a flight simulator
to gather feedback from pilots on the instrument panel and flight deck (cockpit) layout.
BFM V3 is more robustly constructed with aluminum profiles and steel brackets. This version includes linear actuators and variable-height platforms to determine the optimal cabin dimensions from a user experience perspective. Additionally, different door types and seat layouts are tested to determine the optimal configurations that comply with FAA regulations.
The seating arrangements and various amenities derived from the research provided valuable insights for designing PLANA’s concept cabin, ultimately contributing to winning the Professional Concept and Product Concepts categories at the 2023 iF Design Award.