test flight
During the Singapore Air Show in February 2020, Moog revealed plans to fly a technology demonstrator before the end of the year.
In November 2019, Moog paid $4 million to acquire the SureFly eVTOL program from Workhorse. Neither Workhorse nor Moog has published a timeline for achieving type certification for the two-seat aircraft. In February 2020, Moog told reporters at the Singapore Air Show that it intends to fly a technology demonstrator version of the aircraft before the end of the year. The company indicated that it intends to pursue possible military applications for the aircraft, including evacuation and resupply missions.
In June 2018, Workhorse applied to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to begin type certification of the aircraft, having completed first flight earlier that year. Then in September 2018, the company said it intended to sell the program.
During the Singapore Air Show in February 2020, Moog revealed plans to fly a technology demonstrator before the end of the year.
Our objective assessment of this program’s probable success.
FutureFlight assesses the probability of success for a new aircraft program by considering the following criteria:
Moog's decision to acquire the SureFly eVTOL program appears to have significantly boosted the aircraft's prospects for making it to market. It was clear that the program had stalled due to lack of funding under Workhorse's ownership. In mid-December 2019, the company declined to comment when asked what the next steps and timeline would be for the SureFly program. "These are maturing technologies, and, over time, we will be working with regulators to shape future requirements," said a spokesperson. This could be taken to mean that the scope of the program could end up being revised.
The company's revelation that it intends to fly a SureFly technology demonstrator in 2020 is the first clue as to a possible timeline for the program.
SureFly is a two-seat, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft with eight contra-rotating propellers fitted to four arms protruding from the main fuselage. The aircraft has a parachute recovery system. Power comes from a gas-powered engine driving electric motors. The aircraft has four 30 kWh lithium-ion batteries to provide five minutes of power in case the main engine fails.