Hanwha Aerospace, Vertical Aerospace expand eVTOL Aircraft Partnership
Hanwha Aerospace and Vertical Aerospace will collaborate on the design and manufacture of tilt and blade pitch control systems for Vertical’s VX4 electric aircraft following a contract last year to develop electro-mechanical actuation (EMA) during the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2023).
Hanwha will now be responsible for all actuation systems of Vertical’s VX4 four-passenger air taxi, which include propeller tilt and pitch change mechanisms critical to the performance of the VX4.
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Jae-il Son said: “The expansion of our business with Vertical to include a top electric actuator system is excellent as Hanwha has been recognised for competitiveness in system technology in the future mobility field.”
Michael Cervenka, CTO of Vertical Aerospace, added: “There has been an opportunity to cooperate with Hanwha in the development of our prototype VX4s that will continue through to the production aircraft; it started with the development of EMA, and now our partnership has deepened by expanding to critical aircraft mechanical systems.”
The VX4 aircraft is a one pilot, four passenger aircraft for which Vertical Aerospace claims to have secured more than 1,400 orders from American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, JAL, Avolon, and Bristow, as well as Korean mobility technology company Kakao Mobility.
Hanwha intends to achieve the most stringent global airworthiness certification standards for eVTOL aircraft by developing and supplying mass-production actuations and mechanical systems.
Beginning with the development of the EMA for Vertical, Hanwha expanded its partnership to include the design of a Blade Pitch Mechanism for Vertical’s second prototype air vehicle, and on that basis, it has expanded the scope of the joint development for the production air vehicle to include the blade pitch control system and the tilt system, both of which are inextricably linked to the development of the EMA.
For an eVTOL aircraft, the actuation and mechanical systems are critical, with the blade pitch control and tilt systems being critical components for stable flight controlled by the flight control system. Unlike conventional aircraft, applications of tilt systems in this new sector of eVTOL aircraft are innovative, hence this program requires a high level of innovation and R&D.
