Archer Maker eVTOL Aircraft
Electricity isn't just powering the future of automobiles. Thanks to rapidly advancing battery and composite construction technology, electric aircraft are making a serious entry into the market. The Archer Maker is an eVTOL — Vertical Takeoff and Landing — designed for short-duration flights, replacing routes traditionally served by helicopters. The Maker appears to have more in common with drones than rotary-winged aircraft, with 12 propellers mounted on a fixed wing. Six of the propellers on the high-mounted wing's leading edge rotate up in combination with the rear six to provide vertical liftoff, and then rotate horizontally for forward motion, while the rear propellers are shut down. An estimated 60 miles of range is available from a 75 kWh battery in the composite fuselage, while the cockpit seats two in a style reminescent of a luxury sports sedan. Thanks to the electric powertrain, noise is virtually nonexistent — a far cry from any helicopter.
