Aircraft

1,600-hp three-seat eVTOL promises jet-setters 500 miles at 220 mph

1,600-hp three-seat eVTOL promises jet-setters 500 miles at 220 mph
AltoVolo's Sigma eVTOL sure is a looker – at least as a 3D render
AltoVolo's Sigma eVTOL sure is a looker – at least as a 3D render
View 5 Images
AltoVolo's Sigma eVTOL sure is a looker – at least as a 3D render
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AltoVolo's Sigma eVTOL sure is a looker – at least as a 3D render
AltoVolo is targeting jet-setters looking for a private aircraft that can take them from rooftops to yachts without making a racket
2/5
AltoVolo is targeting jet-setters looking for a private aircraft that can take them from rooftops to yachts without making a racket
This hybrid electric VTOL aircraft promises a whopping 510 miles of range, as well as the ability to continue flying even when one jet fails
3/5
This hybrid electric VTOL aircraft promises a whopping 510 miles of range, as well as the ability to continue flying even when one jet fails
This lightweight aircraft is designed to comfortably seat three multimillionaires who have places to be
4/5
This lightweight aircraft is designed to comfortably seat three multimillionaires who have places to be
With a targeted cruising speed of 220 mph, the Sigma will be among the fastest eVTOL aircraft in the skies – if it takes off
5/5
With a targeted cruising speed of 220 mph, the Sigma will be among the fastest eVTOL aircraft in the skies – if it takes off
View gallery - 5 images

London-based startup AltoVolo is aiming high with its entry in the developing eVTOL space. It plans to offer a powerful personal hybrid-electric aircraft that will seat three people, deliver 510 miles (821 km) of range, and hit cruise speeds up of to 220 mph (354 km/h) – all while making 80% less noise than a helicopter.

Those are some fighting words, especially when you consider that these figures are higher than what most other eVTOL makers have claimed so far – and the fact that all AltoVolo has to show at the moment is 3D renders of its Sigma aircraft, albeit rather pretty ones.

For comparison, Archer Aviation's Midnight electric air taxi, which has jumped through several regulatory hoops in the US recently, tops out at 150 mph (241 km/h) and 100 miles on a charge. Joby's hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator is perhaps a closer competitor: it pulled off a 523-mile (842-km) flight last year, and can hit a max speed of 200 mph (322 km/h).

With a targeted cruising speed of 220 mph, the Sigma will be among the fastest eVTOL aircraft in the skies – if it takes off
With a targeted cruising speed of 220 mph, the Sigma will be among the fastest eVTOL aircraft in the skies – if it takes off

It's worth noting that these flying machines are being built for different use cases, though. While Joby and Archer have their sights set on the air taxi market – meaning rapid back-to-back flights and quick recharges in between – AltoVolo's Sigma could rival private helicopters that operate in residential areas with its range and quiet operation.

The Sigma is an undoubtedly bold vision, from the design to its dimensions. AltoVolo says it will measure just 15.7 ft (4.8 m) wide (about the same as a double garage door), feature a 1,608-hp powertrain capable of operating even when one jet fails, and weigh just 2,160 lb (980 kg) inclusive of three passengers, or about the same as the incredibly fast Gordon Murray T.50 hypercar. That's all kinds of bonkers.

This lightweight aircraft is designed to comfortably seat three multimillionaires who have places to be
This lightweight aircraft is designed to comfortably seat three multimillionaires who have places to be

AltoVolo says it's "combined a patent-pending tilting electric jet design and integrated aerodynamics, to leverage the high burst capability of batteries for vertical take-off and landing, and the energy density of liquid fuel for long range flight."

AltoVolo is targeting jet-setters looking for a private aircraft that can take them from rooftops to yachts without making a racket
AltoVolo is targeting jet-setters looking for a private aircraft that can take them from rooftops to yachts without making a racket

That's all well and good, but as we've learned from covering eVTOL companies over the last few years, getting such projects off the ground is not easy by any measure. So while AltoVolo says it's had its design and engineering validated by an experienced aerospace engineer and integrated autonomous flight tech from veteran control systems firm Embention, I couldn't find much about its founder Will Wood's background online. So the proof will mostly be in the pudding.

This hybrid electric VTOL aircraft promises a whopping 510 miles of range, as well as the ability to continue flying even when one jet fails
This hybrid electric VTOL aircraft promises a whopping 510 miles of range, as well as the ability to continue flying even when one jet fails

AltoVolo says it's done with prototype flight testing, and is gearing up to build a full-scale demonstrator next. It will open up a waitlist this July for early orders of its Sigma 'vertical hybrid jet.' I'm all for ambitious ventures like this, so I'll follow the company's journey to see how it progresses; stay tuned for more of our coverage of this private eVTOL.

Source: AltoVolo

View gallery - 5 images
20 comments
20 comments
dan
Unless they have USD 3 billion to invest, don't rely on batteries, and can solve the safety and certification challenges that all eVTOLs face, it remains just a nice design and a pastime for engineers. Batteries lack the energy density needed, and safety options do not even allow for autorotation or gliding. Currently, eVTOLs fail to meet safety requirements. Certification paths are uncertain and costly—especially with heavy software reliance. I like the design, but it’s not a practical business case.
guzmanchinky
It's obviously VERY cool, and someday these will be as common as a Honda Accord, but it will take some General AI powered by Quantum Computers to come up with the energy storage technology (the motors and flight controls are no problem) to make this commonplace. I hope it happens soon!
Eggbones
Conflating eVTOL with hybrid electric VTOL is a bit sloppy, especially when you're comparing range with fully electric aircraft.
Rusty
Shoot, humans can't even operate a motorized vehicle glued to the road with rubber tires, and you want to let them operate a EVTOL?
Uncle Anonymous
I hope they manage to get this project off the ground, as it were. With the current state of battery technology, I believe the designers are smart to use a hybrid approach. And from a personal note, these sure look cool.
Jonathan Sterling
This really is a stunning design. Hybrid electric makes a lot more sense than a full evtol. A lot less to crush into in the sky. Good luck to the team.
DaveWesely
What is the fascination with eVTOLs? Cars already use too much space for efficient urban transport (12x more than bikes). An eVTOL would require a take off and landing pad equal to two soccer fields due to the vertical and horizontal wash! How many people have that kind of space in urban areas? Who wants these things constantly flying over your house and crashing in your back yard. Have a house in a nice quiet cul-de-sac? Oops, not anymore! At best these things would replace helicopters, not cars.
doc
@dan unless you get with reality Evtols is on the brink of operating commercially. Get with it or get left BEHIND ! SOON !
HokenPoke
OUTSTANDING !
@Rusty Some cant even climb stairs yet here we are. Evtols will be a breeze to fly.
Arcticshade
Nice i really like this !
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