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On this in-depth interview, meet Michael Kügelgen: one of many aerospace pioneers behind eMagic Plane’s ultralight eVTOL.
The next is a visitor publish by Max Lenz, Government Editor and challenge supervisor on the Berlin-based DroneMasters EnhanceGmbH and editor of the weekly DroneMasters Briefing. The 61st DroneMasters Meetup is going on February 2, 2022 – and DroneMasters is providing DRONELIFE Readers a ten% low cost! Register right here to attend. DRONELIFE neither makes nor accepts fee for visitor posts.
Michael Kügelgen on the event of the ultralight eVTOL eMagic One and eMagic Plane’s future plans
In November 2021, on the European Rotors in Cologne, the eMagic One, an ultralight eVTOL, was offered to the general public for the primary time. Till then, the challenge has gone largely unnoticed.
The eMagic One is the prototype of the corporate eMagic Plane, represented by two pioneers particularly. One is Thomas Senkel, who can undoubtedly be referred to as a pioneer of crewed vertical mobility. As co-founder of e-Volo, which turned Volocopter later, he was the primary individual in historical past to take off in an electrical multicopter. The accompanying pictures with the adventurous-looking building have since turn into an icon of the event historical past of vertical mobility.
The opposite face of eMagic Plane is Michael Kügelgen. He’s additionally an excellent knowledgeable in his area, which primarily includes growing and developing ultralight plane and manufacturing particular components. Together with his firm, MK Know-how, he has developed new manufacturing processes and even a manufacturing line for Elon Musk’s area firm SpaceX that manufactures components for rocket engines.
In 2018, Thomas Senkel and Michael Kügelgen lastly teamed as much as develop an ultralight eVTOL, the eMagic One. It could possibly take off and land in airplane mode in addition to vertically, protecting a number of potential functions without delay. On 2nd February, Michael Kügelgen will discuss concerning the challenge and future plans on the 61st DroneMasters Meetup.
Surprisingly little time has handed from the primary thought of the eMagic One in 2018 to a flyable model in fall 2021. The reason being, on the one hand, the parallel improvement of the plane and vertical drive, which the inventors merged right into a single unit in a later part of the challenge; however, Kügelgen factors to the many years of expertise in plane building in addition to a great community of specialists. These embody, for instance, the brothers Matthias and Thomas Strieker, who labored on the construction and security of the eVTOL, and Richard Krüger-Sprengel. He manufactured the propellers along with his firm Helix Carbon. As well as, Kügelgen claims to have examined each improvement step with 1:2 and 1:4 fashions.
To date, the eMagic One has been examined in airplane mode and vertical flight, however the transition between the 2 phases continues to be pending. In line with studies, different producers are having nice problem making this transition easily. Nevertheless, Michael Kügelgen is relaxed about this problem: “The flight angle management has been extensively examined and optimized in a so-called 1:1 hover platform. In October 2021, the eight rotor items had been built-in into the plane and efficiently flown. As quickly because the climate permits, on the newest in spring, the primary transitions are to be flown.”
The event of the eMagic One may quickly be accomplished. In line with Kügelgen, the ahead and reverse transitions are the ultimate improvement milestones and will probably be perfected this 12 months. After that, small-scale manufacturing is on the agenda, as a result of in accordance with Kügelgen, “There may be an incredible quantity of curiosity in eMagic One as a sport plane. In parallel, we intend to derive a drone from eMagic One.” So eMagic One may additionally turn into a UL class transport drone, which might open up but extra prospects.
However that isn’t the tip of the story. Based mostly on the eMagic One, the eMagic Subsequent is to be developed, an eVTOL for a complete of three individuals. That’s not potential within the UL class. “The eMagic Subsequent, subsequently, needs to be EASA licensed, which will probably be advanced, prolonged, and dear. Partly, the requirements for this nonetheless should be outlined and developed.”
The eMagic Subsequent is predicted to move individuals over medium distances. Kügelgen is assuming a variety of over 300 kilometers: “The eMagic One presently has a variety of 150 km. Relying on the applying, the intention is to double this vary no less than. eMagic Subsequent is then anticipated to have an excellent higher vary.”
The founders realized the event of the eMagic One with out the assist of buyers. Nevertheless, for additional improvement on eMagic Subsequent, the corporate desires to lift enterprise capital and method buyers. Kügelgen divides the challenge and the related financing necessities into three phases: “We want a 1-digit million quantity for the primary part, a mid 2-digit million quantity for the second part, and a 3-digit million quantity for part 3; together with certification.”
So, it’s undoubtedly value keeping track of eMagic Plane’s actions. Already, the corporate is a formidable instance of how small groups can play a key position in shaping the event of vertical mobility. On the 61st DroneMasters Meetup on 2nd February 2022, Michael Kügelgen will present additional insights into eMagic Plane’s actions and reply questions from the viewers.
The DroneMasters Meetup is your alternative to be taught extra about new know-how and new progress within the drone trade. Don’t Overlook: DRONELIFE Readers get a 20% low cost on tickets utilizing the code “DroneLife.” Register at present!
Learn extra from Max Lenz on Drone Swarms for Fireplace Suppression.
Max Lenz is Government Editor and Undertaking Supervisor on the Berlin-based DroneMasters Enhance GmbH, an incubator and consultancy specializing in vertical mobility and drones. As editor of the weekly DroneMasters Briefing, Max displays developments in vertical mobility and highlights thrilling developments. On the DroneMasters Academy he supplies entry to aerial robotics, aviation, science, tech, engineering, and math (STEM) utilizing drones and drone sports activities.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone area and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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