HAI Convention News

Spirit AeroSystems To Make Wing for CityAirbus NG eVTOL

 - March 10, 2022, 9:51 AM
Spirit AeroSystems will develop and manufacture the wings for the CityAirbus NextGen’s eVTOL at its facility in Belfast, Ireland. (Photo: Airbus)

Spirit AeroSystems will develop and manufacture the wings for the CityAirbus NextGen’s eVTOL at its facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, under a deal announced with Airbus (Booth 7750, Static S19) on Wednesday at Heli-Expo. The companies said the goal is to achieve a minimum weight solution while ensuring the highest levels of safety.

According to Airbus, the structural concept of the eVTOL’s fixed wings “will be able to transmit the related aerodynamic loads while being optimized for the right balance between hover and cruise efficiency.” It added that CityAirbus NextGen’s distributed propulsion system "will contribute to reducing the influence of air turbulence.”

Airbus unveiled the CityAirbus NextGen design in September and a prototype is expected to make its first flight in 2023. Besides having fixed wings, the aircraft sports a V-shaped tail and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system. CityAirbus NextGen is projected to have a 50-mile range and top speed of about 75 mph.