Supernal Plans Prototype Testing of S-A2 in 2025

Our Bureau - : Jul 23, 2024 - : 3:53 am

Advanced Air Mobility company Supernal's full-scale electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle product concept, S-A2, is on display at the ongoing Show. The company Supernal will initiate prototype testing of S-A2 in 2025 and plans to launch commercial flights...

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Prior to protoype testing next year, Supernal will begin flying its full-scale technology demonstrator (FSTD) (FSTD). GKN has delivered the full composite wing assembly for the FSTD and will deliver the booms by the end of the month. The FSTD test program will inform Supernal's prototype vehicle by helping to mature and validate vehicle systems, optimize supply chain processes and solidify internal testing protocols.

The introduction of S-A2 to the aviation community is the latest milestone in the company's journey toward realizing safe, efficient and affordable everyday passenger air travel. The aircraft leverages expertise from Supernal's aerospace engineering teams in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group's automotive designers and manufacturing teams. Built to cruise at 120 miles per hour at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,500 feet above ground level, S-A2 will have an initial range of 60 miles to meet typical city operation needs.

The aircraft utilizes a distributed electric propulsion architecture and will operate quietly to meet community noise standards. The S-A2 is engineered to achieve global commercial aviation safety standards with a robust airframe structure that includes redundant components in critical systems such as powertrain, flight controls and avionics.

"We are eager to share Supernal's latest product milestone – our eVTOL product concept – with the aviation industry as we work to launch commercial Advanced Air Mobility operations in 2028," said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. "With our 'right product, right market at the right time' philosophy, S-A2 embodies critical work Supernal is conducting with fleet operators, suppliers, governments and Hyundai Motor Group to ensure AAM becomes a safe, economically viable and widespread mode of transportation in the coming decades."

"2024 is a pivotal year for Supernal's eVTOL development, marking the transition from engineering design to the build and execution phases," said David McBride, chief technology officer, Supernal. "In addition to gaining instrumental learnings from our full-scale technology demonstrator, we will also begin prototype development and continue refining our production vehicle for scaled manufacturing in the coming months."

Supernal will host an industry panel in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Wednesday, July 24, at 10:00 a.m. Shin and leaders from Airbus, Honeywell and Kearney will share perspectives on solving AAM challenges to adoption, such as regulatory gaps, the need for new infrastructure and gaining public acceptance. In addition, Supernal will progress and announce efforts related to AAM market development at the airshow.

"We know an eVTOL vehicle is just one piece of the AAM puzzle," said Shin. "Building the entire ground-to-air ecosystem requires thoughtful collaboration among leaders across all aspects of the industry. The Farnborough International Airshow provides the right platform to do just that."

Supernal / Farnborough-airshow-2024 / Prototype-testing /

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