Pat & Dennis Bender Experimental Aircraft Development Fund
J. Dennis Bender
Office, Home & Cell Phone: 859-391-5226
5726 La Jolla Blvd. – Suite 311
La Jolla, CA 92037-7345
&
Office - 100 Riverside Pl. - Suite 303
Covington, KY 41011-5711
We support experimental-aircraft development and applications for EMS, under-served-rural-communities, native-Americans, border-patrol, forestry-management, educational purposes, etc. (After initially incorporating in KY to form a single 501(c)(3), we dissolved that entity for a simplified form creating two entirely self-financed, private-philanthropies. A Vanguard National Trust account has been setup foreach making annual-grants for specific experimental-aviation-related projects in conjunction with the Experimental Aircraft Assoc. Foundation [EAA] in Oshkosh, WI., the eVTOL organization, San Diego Air & Space Museum and similar organizations. David J. Bender is my Estate Rep.
www.JDBender.com – Pat & Dennis Bender eVTOL Experimental Aviation Fund (Vanguard National Trust)
www.JDBender.org – Pat & Dennis Bender Dementia Diagnosis Fund (Vanguard National Trust)
November 10, 2023
Hydrogen-powered eVTOL ‘Vertiia’ with modular-interior to fly as air-ambulance in Australia.
“10-minutes to refuel this hydrogen-powered-eVTOL and that its operating-cost can be up to 70%-lower than a helicopter. . . For end-users like emergency-services, and personal and cargo transport, this technology is an exciting prospect for cutting-emissions and costs from air-transport.”
An eVTOL-flying-ambulance of this sort is also one of our projects and this is my favorite design. Australia is a leader in this effort, and we have been following this college project for years now, ever since it began as an Ausie experimental eVTOL looking for backers, such as us. I offered funding support from my $3M fund, but they never responded to our early offer to the university. Now they have found other sources of funding. (See our many earlier reports regarding its development.)
Australian Government Backs Hydrogen-Powered eVTOL Vertiia
Matthew Burgos | Designboom - Nov 9, 2023 - https://www.designboom.com/technology/hydrogen-powered-evtol-vertiia-modular-interior-australian-renewable-energy-agency-amsl-aero-11-09-2023/
On November 8th, 2023, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) of the Australian Government announced its backing and support for the development of the hydrogen-powered eVTOL Vertiia by AMSL Aero, which could be used as a flying-ambulance for emergency-purposes.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has awarded a grant of [US] $3.5-million to AMSL Aero to undertake the development and certification activities for the multipurpose aircraft and air transport. ARENA hopes that through the funding, it will culminate in a successful demonstration with a test-flight of the prototype.
[Images provided by Vertiia]
If successful, the hydrogen-powered eVTOL Vertiia by AMSL Aero could be one of the lowest-cost and cleanest forms of air transport in Australia, bearing a range of up to 1,000 km. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s grant follows the development of a prototype battery-electric version of the aircraft.
The aircraft operates similarly to a helicopter and is fitted with 8-exposed-rotors. AMSL Aero intends for Vertiia to be available for markets such as air-ambulance, emergency-services, and passenger and cargo-transport. Because of its modular-interior, the aircraft can also deal with specialized-situations, including fighting-bushfires.
AMSL Aero’s hydrogen-powered eVTOL Vertiia and its 8 external-rotors
Multipurpose Transport With 8-Rotors and Modular Interior AMSL Aero’s hydrogen-powered eVTOL Vertiia is the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s first project in hydrogen-powered-aviation. The air-ambulance and multipurpose transport with 8-rotors and a modular-interior has even received additional support from the Australian Government via the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, further helping the team in developing the aircraft.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller says that the project is a prime example of Australian innovators taking the lead in developing renewable-energy-solutions. ‘AMSL Aero is a homegrown Australian startup tackling one of the many challenges in the transition to net-zero. For end-users like emergency-services, and personal and cargo transport, this technology is an exciting prospect for cutting-emissions and costs from air transport,’ he says.
The aircraft has a modular-interior that can be fitted with medical-equipment.
ARENA says that the aviation sector is responsible for roughly 2.5% of global greenhouse-gas-emissions, with nearly a fifth coming from short-haul-flights under 1,000 kilometers. The energy agency hopes that with the entrance of the hydrogen-powered-eVTOL Vertiia, the aircraft will be able to cut the percentage down, leading to the reduction of carbon emissions in the Australian aviation industry.
AMSL Aero Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Moore comments that the funding will mean they can accelerate the design, build, and certification activities for eVTOL Vertiia. ‘It will mean that patients and passengers will have earlier access to the aircraft as a result and will play a key-role in decarbonizing-air-transport in Australia and abroad,’ he says. As of publishing the story, AMSL Aero has yet to unveil the official release of the aircraft.
The interior can also be fitted with seats as the hydrogen-powered eVTOL is multipurpose.
eVTOL Vertiia Inspired by Lawrence Hargrave’s Box-Wing The hydrogen-powered-eVTOL Vertiia is designed for Australian conditions. Its 8-rotors, set up like tiered benches at stadiums, a teardrop-shaped body, and interconnected-frames take inspiration from Lawrence Hargrave’s ‘box-wing’ concept. AMSL Aero, founded by the duo Andrew Moore and Siobhan Lyndon, says that not only is the eVTOL’s interior modular but also its airframe tailored to situations that might require its adjustment.
The hydrogen-powered Vertiia’s wing-tilt can reduce its drag and maximize its speed and efficiency in transit. As seen in the prototype photos the team has released so far, the interior can be set-up for aeromedical purposes, passenger-transport, and cargo. For tech-buffs, the eVTOL Veriia is expected to have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers, fly with a speed of 300 km/h, and carry a payload of up to 500 kilos. The team says it can take only around 10-minutes to refuel the hydrogen-powered-eVTOL and that its operating-cost can be up to 70%-lower than a helicopter.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency backs the hydrogen-powered eVTOL Vertiia by AMSL Aero.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has awarded a grant of 5.43 million AUD.
AMSL Aero unveils the real-life prototype. [As pictured in my earlier reports on it.]
If successful, eVTOL Vertiia could be one of the lowest-cost and cleanest forms of air transport in Australia.
It looks like leather seats are waiting for the future passengers of the hydrogen-powered eVTOL Vertiia.
Project Info:
Name: Vertiia
Design: AMSL Aero
Backing: Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Government of Australia
{Vertiia}
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