PteroDynamics is building a network of distributors for its Transwing autonomous VTOL utility aircraft to tap commercial, military and parapublic applications worldwide, including logistics, infrastructure monitoring and emergency support. On October 15, the U.S. company appointed Cornes Technologies as its Japanese distributor, following the appointment in July of UK-based Overwatch Group to seek non-commercial customers in the UK and any opportunities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
In June PteroDynamics participated in the U.S. Navy’s Trident Warrior experimental program as part of the wider Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise. It demonstrated the Transwing aircraft simulating ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore logistics missions from the deck of the USS Curtis Wilbur guided-missile destroyer.
The exercises included 12 flights carrying payloads of up to 15 pounds in relative wind that exceeded 20 knots during takeoff and landing. With special permission to operate from ships and a number of sea trials logged previously, PteroDynamics also demonstrated how a pair of Transwing vehicles could be operated simultaneously by a single operator.
The Transwing’s wings fold dihedrally when transitioning between hover and cruise flight modes. According to <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2021-07-29/pterodynamics-boosts-transwing-evtol-program-new-colorado-base">the Colorado-based manufacturer</a>, this feature saves weight and drag compared with VTOL aircraft with separate rotors or propellers for horizontal and vertical flight, makes it more stable in high wind conditions and also gives it a small operational footprint allowing it to operate from tight quarters.
<img alt="Pterodynamics demonstrated its XP4 version of the Transwing on a U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific Ocean." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="39fd007e-53b9-448d-87ea-68ce5d572d3a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/PD_Media_7.jpg" width="3840" height="2160" loading="lazy">
According to PteroDynamics CEO Matthew Graczyk, the company has very well protected intellectual property, including six granted patents, and 14 more pending, covering the airframe and flight mechanics. “We’ve seen that it has been tough for some [eVTOL] companies to get into markets like air taxi services, and so we are going after high-end, time-sensitive missions [with the Transwing], where we feel the commercial demand signals are stronger and the types of need are clearer,” he told AIN.
Cornes Technologies has a similar perspective on its new product offering.“Given the Japanese government’s commitment to integrating drones into defense and commercial applications, we see a significant opportunity for Transwing in this rapidly expanding market,” the company’s president, Kazuhiko Nishioka, commented. “We believe that PteroDynamics’s cutting edge technology is well suited to the evolving needs of Japan’s defense and commercial sectors, offering solutions.”
The version of the Transwing aircraft now being demonstrated is designated as the XP4. Like the earlier models, it runs on an electric motor with a maximum range of 60 nm and a flight endurance of 60 minutes.
<h2>Hybrid Version Will Have More Range and Payload</h2>
PteroDynamics is now working on a larger version called the P5, which will have a series hybrid powertrain to support a 50 pound payload, range of up to 600 nm and a 10-hour endurance. This is expected to be the flagship commercial product, and the company said it is close to securing a contract from a U.S. Department of Defense customer to develop the P5 Transwing into commercial service for mission requirements of at least 400 nm and a maximum takeoff weight below 330 pounds.
Beyond that, the company’s ambitions extend to a still-larger model called the P7. This turbine-powered vehicle would deliver a 620-pound payload and range of up to 1,000 nm.
Pterodynamics is now in talks with prospective partners who could provide suitable engines for these Transwing derivatives. Graczyk acknowledge the search is challenging in the sense that not many companies are making engines of the right size, and with large enough intervals between overhaul to be viable for the envisaged applications.
The company is now preparing to raise further funding to support efforts to commercialize production versions of both the P4 and P5 models. It is also scaling up its operation to be ready to start serial manufacturing.

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