Aircraft

Ryse Recon buy 'n' fly eVTOL celebrates first manned flight

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Not only would the Recon be quicker than ground-based transportation, but it also wouldn't be limited by rough terrain, and it wouldn't compact the soil in farm fields
Ryse Aero Technologies
Among other things, the Recon is reportedly designed to be easily mass-produced, inexpensive to maintain, and easy to fly
Ryse Aero Technologies
Not only would the Recon be quicker than ground-based transportation, but it also wouldn't be limited by rough terrain, and it wouldn't compact the soil in farm fields
Ryse Aero Technologies
Ryse states that the Recon will weigh less than 300 lb (136 kg), have a range of up to 25 miles (40 km), a top speed of 63 mph (101 km/h), and the ability to takeoff and land on both land and water
Ryse Aero Technologies
The Ryse Recon could be used to survey land, locate lost cattle, or test soil
Ryse Aero Technologies
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American company Ryse Aerotech has released video of its first manned flight test, undertaken back in June. The Recon eVTOL is pitched as a buy 'n' fly ultralight aircraft that farmers and ranchers can put to immediate use without a pilot's license.

Like the Jetson One, this is electric VTOL in its most basic form: a drone-style six-prop multicopter with a single seat in the middle. The aluminum-framed Recon weighs 130 kg (286 lb), and lifts an occupant up to 91 kg (200 lb). Battery endurance is up to 25 minutes, depending on the weight of the pilot and the prevailing wind conditions, and this thing will fly at speeds up to 58 mph (93 km/h) flat out – with a comfortable cruising speed closer to 40 mph (65 km/h).

The control scheme is extremely simple: a pair of joysticks like you might use to fly a drone – and the Recon's flight control module is enhanced with obstacle sense and avoid tech, and the capability to limit your max altitude to a (frankly very scary) 700 ft (213 m) above ground level. Indeed, the company is doing its best to make the experience of flying the Recon as boring as possible, according to Daily Beast reporter Tony Ho Tran, who took the controls himself for a brief test drive.

The Ryse Recon could be used to survey land, locate lost cattle, or test soil
Ryse Aero Technologies

It's not designed for urban use or commuting; Ryse hopes it's a practical way for people to get about large plots of land. A quad bike in the sky, if you will, that can get across topographically interesting ground with extreme ease and get farmers to any far corner of their property to solve problems quicker than anything else.

Mind you, the sleek carbon body doesn't exactly look gumboot-ready or easy to hose out, there doesn't appear to be much room for a heavy toolbox, hay bale or vet kit, and its max operating wind speed is 22 knots (25 mph, 40 km/h, large branches in trees are in constant motion, umbrellas start to get tricky), so its uses will definitely be limited.

And that's not to mention the safety concerns of flying in any big drone – even with many redundant systems. We have every confidence that Ryse, and indeed all eVTOL manufacturers, are taking every step they can to reduce risk, with multiple critical system redundancies. Nobody's seriously hurt themselves in an eVTOL yet, to my knowledge. But once these things get out there into the hands of the public in decent numbers, all bets are off and things are gonna happen. Then again, those numbers might not be huge given the price tag, which Tran reports is targeted to be around US$150,000 when the Recon makes its full commercial launch next year.

Still, it's off the ground and flying with a person in it, as you can see in the video below, and we certainly hope these kinds of machines will find their place in productive society as something more than leisure toys.

Source: Ryse Aerotech

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10 comments
mark34
Too bad that it exceeds the US part 103 Ultralight regulations of 254 pounds empty weight
Nelson
One bird strike and one of those propelers will break, and then the pilot is beheaded, no thanks.
jeronimo
Aimed at the agricultural recon market ... Really ?

Most farms are dusty places in dry weather, so the visibility will be terrible getting close to the ground.

I wouldn't be comfortable with 6 propellers spinning a couple of feet from my waist.
Ed Clark
I really wish the rotors were above the cockpit, like in a helicopter. Or perhaps aimed down, and below the cockpit. But yes, a swift gust of wind, or a failed engine, and I could see your hand (or something else) getting chopped off.
JeffK
All valid comments, and as usual for battery powered vehicle videos both earth bound and aerial, a near constant musical soundtrack covering the actual sound or lack thereof, produced while in operation.
Graeme S
the concentration on his face tells it all, I would rather fly my helicopter
bwana4swahili
Looks like a high priced meat slicer! No thanks!!
Towerman
Pfft look at all tthe hilarious comments, no grandpa's this is not the 50s a bird strike wil be uneventfull.
@Ed Clark you make the mistake
Like all the rest of the uninformed . Electric motors react near instant a failed motor is 1st is highly unlikely and should this Extremely rare event occur for an electric motor a non event as the other motors take over.

Further a gust of wind will do little to nothing as electric motors compensates instantly to weather changes ;) (hint..this is not a slow reacting helicopter ..you learn something new everyday or as the above comments indicates old dogs cant be learnt new tricks as they repeat the same uninformative views on every article lol.
ljaques
I'm so, so glad to hear a nice quiet soundtrack with only the sound of the machine in it. Oops, sorry. That was in my dreams. Yet another loud and obnoxious clapping soundtrack, completely disguising any possible sound the machine could make. Why do marketing departments PULL that crap? It's not like a first flight is going to be exciting or anything, with a hamstrung pilot not being able to play at all.
Towerman
I agree about the soundtrack cant be louder than a helicopter, lets hear it i love the sound of big multirotors.