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The VTOL dream – Will it always remain out of reach?

Part of: RAeS Lanchester Lecture Papers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2019

P Curtis Open the ORCID record for P Curtis [Opens in a new window]
P Curtis*
Affiliation:
Independent Consultant, St.Neots, UK
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

In this paper, we examine some of the physics behind Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) flying machines, and some of the emerging technologies that are driving the recent upsurge of new VTOL projects. The paper attempts to put these into context by examining some of the projects that have been publicised over the past couple of years, particularly those that transition from hovering into wing-borne flight. Although much progress has been made, there still needs to be significant breakthroughs in technologies, particularly battery technology, before the dream of fast, quiet and environmentally friendly inter-city VTOL aircraft can be realised.

Keywords

VTOLjet effectstransitioneVTOL
Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 123 , Issue 1267 , September 2019 , pp. 1339 - 1355
Copyright
© Royal Aeronautical Society 2019 

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References

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