VÆRIDION, the all-electric aircraft manufacturer, has selected Drive System Design (DSD) to develop, test and supply the propeller drive system hardware for its nine-seat Microliner aircraft.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement moves the system from concept into detailed design, build and testing, supporting VÆRIDION’s progress towards first flight and certification. DSD becomes the third key supplier supporting VÆRIDION’s Electric Propulsion Unit, alongside MT-Propeller and Evolito.
The Microliner’s propulsion system is defined by VÆRIDION’s proprietary multi-engine, single-propeller architecture, in which two independent electric engines drive a single propeller through a direct-drive transmission system, according to the company in a press release. “The propeller drive system is a key element of the architecture that combines and transfers the power output of the two engines to the propeller. If one engine loses power, an integrated clutch automatically decouples it, allowing the remaining engine to continue powering the propeller.”
The Microliner’s proprietary multi-engine, single-propeller architecture was first demonstrated at 20% scale in 2024 and has since advanced through preliminary design review in 2026. It is now entering its next phase of maturation towards full-scale Copper Bird testing and detailed design, says the company. In preparation for Copper Bird testing, DSD will lead the detailed design, development, manufacture and initial testing of the first ‘Blue Label’ propeller drive system units at its award-winning UK engineering facilities.
The programme will be delivered in two stages: the first will support VÆRIDION’s Preliminary Design Review gateway while the second will deliver tested hardware for integration into the company’s full-scale Copper Bird ground-test platform at Oberpfaffenhofen airport in Germany. DSD’s scope covers the propeller drive unit, motor support structure, driveshaft and clutch, alongside oil-system development, component optimisation, hardware procurement, assembly and rig-based testing.
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(Image: VÆRIDION)