The Tensor 600X gyroplane shows what “inferior VTOL” is

During the Eropean Rotors trade fair, the German company Fraundorfer Aeronautics presented the Tensor 600X gyroplane in the form of a two-seater project for personal transport. However, according to the company, there is no problem with extending it to even a six-seater “air taxi”, which is expected to happen around 2025.

What can the Tensor 600X gyroplane do? Right now, it’s mostly a technology demonstrator for what’s to come

It promises to be that Fraundorfer Aeronautics will have a hard time to crack the strength of VTOL taxis and their electric variants in the form of eVTOL. It can be said that this gyroplane is a kind of “intermediate VTOL”, being something between airplanes and helicopters.

Also read: A drone with an electronic nose checked the smell from the sewage treatment plant

The key thing is that the upper, large propeller does not spin the engine, but the forward flight speed itself. This means that in calm weather the Tensor 600X gyroplane requires a very low forward speed to generate enough lift to take off the gyroplane. On the other hand, the push blade at the rear provides enough force to keep it in flight.

Also read: FLO DRIVE electric drive, the fruit of cooperation between Gogoro and Gates Carbon Drive

The Tensor 600X is both a product for hobbyists and a technology demonstrator for a future gyroplane. In its current version, it is powered by the Rotax 915iS engine, thanks to which it can take off from a 90-meter runway with a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg and land at just 20 meters.

Also read: Intel failed, but Gigabyte solved Alder Lake’s DRM problem

The minimum flight speed is 50 km / h, and the maximum one is even 200 km / h, while the ceiling is estimated at 3000 meters. On the range side, the diesel version will offer around 600 km at 185 km / h. however, it is possible to convert this gyroplane into completely emission-free variants using either a battery or hydrogen fuel cells.