Metro Skyways Ltd. releases design details of its hydrogen powered eVTOL CityHawk

Two years after announcing plans to produce a five seat, hydrogen powered, CityHawk eVTOL, Metro Skyways (a wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics) released today more details of its design, including the hydrogen based powertrain.

CityHawk, being the dimensions of a delivery van and having no exposed rotors, is designed to be "road legal". It is the only multiple passenger, "Urban Air Mobility" eVTOL that has true "fly anywhere, land anywhere" capability.

While CityHawk will initially be powered by jet fuel in order to expedite the airframe's certification under FAA FAR 27, following certification it will convert to 700 bar compressed hydrogen propulsion. Even with its new, hydrogen/Fuel Cell Stack (FCS) powertrain, Metro Skyways has developed technology which will still meet all FAA/EASA requirements for a Category A takeoff, manned, rotorcraft certified for commercial operation.

CityHawk incorporates a power train based on two separate FCS units. Should one of the FCS units fail, the aircraft will be able to come down to a safe landing using power from the remaining FCS, with supplemental power available via on-board batteries contained in two Power Conditioning Units (PCUs). only in very rare cases would an installed rocket-deployed parachute be required. If it is ever deployed, it will be fully steerable from the cockpit to avoid damage to people or property on the ground. To provide extra safety to the occupants in the event of a hard landing or crash, special provisions are being implemented in the design that meet the existing requirements for a jet fuel / turbine powered variant, even while carrying hydrogen on board.

CityHawk capitalizes on internal rotor FancraftTM technology developed by Urban Aeronautics Ltd. over two decades. Besides the unprecedented, compact footprint, the internal rotors, combined with multi-bladed, slow turning fans, enable extra quiet operation. CityHawk's minimal noise will blend into the city background noise at a distance of 250 meters.

Apart from the addition of a second engine (or FCS in the case of the H2 variant), CityHawk is identical in configuration, size and weight class to the Multi-Role, Cormorant UAV developed by sister company Tactical Robotics Ltd. which has accumulated in excess of 300 flights. Cormorant is powered by a single 985 Horsepower turboshaft engine supplied by SAFRAN HE, the company's design partner for its propulsion system.

In addition to the design of the air vehicle itself, Metro Skyways is working together with designers and city planners to make sure CityHawk's planned operations and Concept of Use (ConUse) are fully integrated into the transportation needs of future, sustainable cities.