Page 71 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021

AIRCRAFT

IT’S NIMBLE AND ELECTRIC

his new pilotless aircraft’s electric
Tshort takeoff and landing design
(eSTOL) will move passengers in a 125-mile
radius at a 250-mph cruising speed.
Metro Hop’s unusual design, said its par-
ent company, comes from a “game-chang-

ing” active landing gear system that rapidly

increases the initial acceleration on the an 82-ft.-long runway to take off and land. be replacing eVTOL designs but sees the

runway to flight speed and, in the same That includes roll-up rubber runways, posi- new design as a reasonable addition to the

way, quickly decelerates on landing. tioned on rooftops, so that office buildings fast-approaching electric-aircraft segment.

The concept of eSTOLs, which take off could be converted into individual airports. Metro Hop plans to first launch a piloted,

and land like traditional airplanes, are gain- Metro Hop said the take-off and landings cargo version which it says can transport

ing attention since the manufacturers claim of its new fixed-wing design also requires goods 20 times faster than a truck on the

they are much more energy-efficient than dramatically less energy than its eVTOL highway, adding that multiple hospitals

the helicopter-like electric vertical takeoff cousins. Less energy means a faster speed have shown interest.
and landing (eVTOL) designs. and longer range for the aircraft. After that, the company plans to introduce

The Metro Hop’s stats, at least in theory, The Northern California start-up, which has a two-person, pilotless passenger plane to
are impressive. The manufacturer said received grants through the European Space serve as a private commuter vehicle or air
that the landing-gear system and large Agency and BIC Bavaria, said its aircraft won’t taxi. The concept is not just science fiction.

wings would mean the aircraft needs only Q
SAPFA
SAPFA FIXTURES FOR 2021
APRIL
JANUARY • AERO - Wonderboom - 8 to 10 July 2021

• Rand Airport Challenge Rally - Rand • SAPFA Rally Nationals & Fun Rally – Stel- AUGUST
lenbosch Airfield – 15 to 17 Apr 2021

Airport– 30 Jan 2021 Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@

Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@ mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516 • Secunda Speed Rally – Secunda Airfield
mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516 • Aero Club Airweek – Middelburg Air- – Saturday 28th August 2021 Contact
• SAPFA AGM - Rand Airport field – 24 to 27 Apr 2021 Jonty Esser e-mail: jonty@promptroof-

ing.co.za cell: 082 855 9435
30 Jan 2021 Time: 2 PM Contact Rob Jonkers e-mail: rob@aero-
Contact Rob Jonkers e-mail: rob@ sud.co.za cell: 082 804 7032 SEPTEMBER
aerosud.co.za cell: 082 804 7032

• Middelburg Speed Rally - Middelburg • Secunda Speed Rally – Secunda Airfield
Airfield - 27 Apr 2021 – 11 Sep 2020. Contact Jonty Esser

FEBRUARY Contact Jonty Esser e-mail: jonty@ e-mail: jonty@promptroofing.co.za cell:

• Witbank Speed Rally - Witbank Airfield promptroofing.co.za cell: 082 855 9435 082 855 9435

- 6 Feb 2021 MAY OCTOBER
Contact Jonty Esser e-mail: jonty@ • Krugersdrop Sheila Taylor Nav Rally Sat- • Springs Speed Rally – Springs Airfield

promptroofing.co.za cell: 082 855 9435 urday Thursday 8 May 2021 Frank Eckard – Saturday 2nd October 2021 Contact

• SAPFA Commi�ee Bosberaad - 13 Feb 2021 e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 Jonty Esser e-mail: jonty@promptroof-

• Brakpan Fun Rally – Brakpan Airport – 269 1516 ing.co.za cell: 082 855 9435
27 Feb 2021 • President’s Trophy Air Race – Ermelo Air-
Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@ field – Thursday 20 to 22 May 2021 NOVEMBER

mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516 Website: www.sapfa.co.za E-mail: Race@ • SA Landing Championships - Stellenbosch

MARCH sapfa.org.za Contact Rob Jonkers 082 804 Airfield - 6 Nov 2021
Contact Ron Stirk e-mail: melron@

7032 e-mail: chairman@sapfa.co.za
• Morning Star ANR – Morning Star Air- mweb.co.za cell:082 445 0373
field – 6 Mar 2021 JUNE • World Rally Champs Training Week -

Contact Tony Russel e-mail: tonyr@ • Silver Queen Rally – Swartkops Air Stellenbosch - 6 to 13 Nov 2021
therussells.co.za cell: 083 264 0107 Force Base – 12 Jun 2021 Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eck-
• Stellenbosch Fun Rally – Stellenbosch Contact Rob Jonkers e-mail: rob@aero- ard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516

Airfield – 27 Mar 2021 sud.co.za cell: 082 804 7032 • World Rally Champs - Stellenbosch - 14
Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eck- to 19 Nov 2021
ard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516 Contact Mary de Klerk e-mail: maryd@ex-
JULY pandingbranding.co.za cell: 084 880 9000
World Airnews | February 2021
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