Podcast Ep. #44 – Airflow is Building an eSTOL Aircraft for Middle-Mile Logistics

Aerospace Engineering Podcast

Rainer Groh – Aerospace Engineer and Researcher and Rainer Groh – Aerospace Engineer에서 제공하는 콘텐츠입니다. 에피소드, 그래픽, 팟캐스트 설명을 포함한 모든 팟캐스트 콘텐츠는 Rainer Groh – Aerospace Engineer and Researcher and Rainer Groh – Aerospace Engineer 또는 해당 팟캐스트 플랫폼 파트너가 직접 업로드하고 제공합니다. 누군가가 귀하의 허락 없이 귀하의 저작물을 사용하고 있다고 생각되는 경우 여기에 설명된 절차를 따르실 수 있습니다 https://ko.player.fm/legal.

4y ago 36:07

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Marc Ausman is the co-founder and CEO of Airflow, a California-based startup that is building an electric short-haul cargo aircraft. Marc holds a commercial pilot license, and among other endeavours, was previously the Chief Strategist for Airbus’ all-electric, tilt-wing vehicle demonstrator known as Vahana. Alongside four other former Vahana team members, Marc and the team at Airflow are building an aerial logistics network to move short-haul cargo quickly and cost effectively by using unused airspace around cities.

Key to Airflow’s vision is electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL). Airflow’s eSTOL aircraft require only a few hundred feet for takeoff and landing—about the length of a football field—which means that runways can be built almost anywhere, even under existing regulations. What is more, even larger rooftops that can fit more than three conventional helipads could feasibly be used as a runway. Given the aerodynamic efficiency advantages of fixed-wing aircraft over rotary vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, Airflow have come-up with an interesting alternative concept to many other companies in the growing urban mobility sector.

So in this episode of the Aerospace Engineering Podcast, Marc and I talk about:

Airflow’s vision of building the urban logistics network of the future
some of the misconceptions of eSTOL and eVTOL
the advantages of electric powertrains beyond reducing emissions
the technology Airflow is developing and challenges that need to be overcome
and striking a balance between financial and engineering incentives

This episode of the Aerospace Engineering Podcast is brought to you by my patrons on Patreon. Patreon is a way for me to receive regular donations from listeners whenever I release a new episode, and with the help of these generous donors I have been able to pay for much of the expenses, hosting and travels costs that accrue in the production of this podcast. If you would like to support the podcast as a patron, then head over to my Patreon page. There are multiple levels of support, but anything from $1 an episode is highly appreciated. Thank you for your support!

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