Kelekona Startup Unveils Design for Large Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft Capable of Long-Distance High-Speed Flight
Vertical takeoff and landing bus powered by 8 rotors arranged in pairs.
Most electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) companies focus on seating capacities of 2 to 5. However, the American startup Kelekona aims to create a flying bus that can carry up to 40 passengers and one pilot, or 4,540 kg of cargo, as reported by New Atlas on May 28. This vehicle is designed to fly long distances at high speeds, with Kelekona asserting it can travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco (530 km) in just one hour.
The flying bus takes off vertically using 8 rotors arranged in pairs. These rotors can tilt to help the bus move forward during flight. However, they seem slightly small compared to the bus’s body. The fuselage is quite wide, bulging with a rounded front and a tapered tail.
Charging the flying bus presents a significant challenge. To operate efficiently, it needs to fly quickly and far, which means high energy consumption and potentially long charging times. To address this issue, Kelekona plans to design a fully removable battery pack that can be easily replaced. While the old battery is charging, the flying bus will be fitted with a new battery and set off to its next destination.
Kelekona’s bus can operate from landing pads that are 3 to 4 times larger than typical helicopter landing zones. Finding space to build such landing pads in urban areas is also a challenge, but it is much easier compared to airports designed for aircraft with wingspans of several meters.