EVTOL Aircraft Configuration Study
This study was conducted as part of the Master of Science degree at Cranfield University.
Driven by the demand for sustainable aviation, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have gained significant public interest and investments for development. Unlike conventional aircraft designs, there is an abundance of eVTOL concepts that are differentiated by their aircraft configuration. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the design tradeoffs in the electric propulsion system for eVTOLs. It sought answers to the following research questions:
1) How many rotors should an eVTOL have?
2) How many rotors should tilt?
3) What is the sensitivity of aircraft range to changes in mission profile and rotor configuration?
Awarded the Course Director’s prize for the best thesis for MSc in Aircraft Engineering for the academic year 2021/2022
