Skyportz will launch a USD1.5 million fundraise next week to further develop the patent design and lock in patent protections of its vertipad design.
Skyportz’ provisionally patented vertipad solution features over a dozen innovations, the primary one being amelioration of downwash and outwash – a problem recognised by the US Federal Aviation Administration Engineering Brief 105A. The requirement for a vast safety zone around vertipads due to hurricane force air turbulence will make the capital costs to build a vertiport network unsustainable in urban areas, according to Skyportz.
The patent has been developed with modelling input from the Swinburne University in Melbourne and the design took out the Blue Sky Innovation Award at the Avalon International Airshow in Australia this year.
“With tens of billions of dollars invested over the last five years and the frontrunners close to certification, there is a growing realisation that the dream of aviation on demand can never be fulfilled without a big network of new landing sites, known as vertiports”, said Clem Newton-Brown, CEO and founder of Skyportz.
“In other words, investors in the aircraft now need to double down to solve the problem of where these new aircraft can pick up passengers. Existing airports and helipads offer an evolution from the helicopter industry – but hardly the revolution investors have been promised”.
Professor Justin Leontini of Swinburne University of Technology stated “The Skyportz vertipad could dissipate power up to two and a half times faster than if an air taxi were to use a flat concrete landing surface”.
Funds raised will also be used to further the Swinburne research and to engage Dr Richard Brown, from Sophrodyne Aerospace in the United Kingdom.
Skyportz plans to initially make its patent IP available free of charge to vertiport test beds in Australia and in all emerging markets globally.
For more information
https://www.birchal.com/company/skyportz
(Image: Skyportz)