The Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) presented a model of an unmanned cargo convertiplane capable of carrying over 500 kg. The aircraft received eight engines, four of which are rotatable, allowing for vertical take-off and landing combined with horizontal flight.
The power scheme significantly differs from the layout of a conventional aircraft or multicopter. Eight engines are distributed throughout the aircraft, and two engine nacelles with hybrid power plants are integrated into the wing. The rotating part of the power plant is used to change the flight mode after a vertical take-off.
A payload capacity of over 500 kg puts the development beyond the usual class of small commercial quadcopters and multicopters. At the same time, the convertiplane retains their key advantage – the ability to take off and land without a runway – but after gaining altitude, it must transition to horizontal flight.
The institute did not disclose specific dates for the first flight, range, speed, or power plant characteristics.
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