DuoTrek 2.0

Specifications:

Aircraft type

Passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft

Piloting

1 pilot

Capacity

1 passenger

Cruise speed

115 mph (185 km/h)

Range

345 miles (555 km), or more

Empty weight

~800 lb (363 kg)

Maximum payload

~400 lb (181 kg)

Propellers

2 or 4 propellers

Electric Motors

2 or 4 electric motors

Power source

In 2003, the concept design originally had a conventional petroleum engine to power the aircraft with gears and mechanical linkages to drive the propellers. However, in 2011, the propulsion system was redesigned and became a hybrid-electric aircraft. It uses a 200 hp engine to create all the electricity for the aircraft and uses electric motors to turn the propellers.

Fuselage

Carbon fiber composite

Windows

Canopy over cockpit

Wings

Front stub wings

Tail

Tailplane mounted tail

Landing gear

Fixed skid type landing gear

Safety features

Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft could be outfitted with a whole aircraft ballistic parachute.