Occasionally browse eVTOL videos and this one stands out for garnering rather more views altogether than most others, in view of the fact that it folds its wings during the transition to a hover. What is remarkable about what PteroDynamics has done is that it is among the few configurations that reflects what nature does best whether among birds and insects.
It is worth considering, for why do species evolve towards folding wings whilst aircraft ~ with the exception of a number of carrier-borne types in the past ~ do not? Almost certainly it has to do with the practicalities of manoeuvring on the ground, where (in view of the energy input required to fly) most such species spend much of their time.
To date folding wings have been structurally difficult to arrange and have added a deal of weight to the finished object, but with computer-aided design and the flexibility of installing multiple electric motors this is set to change. Undoubtedly, therefore, what attracts defence budgets to this notion is the facts the footprint lends itself to ready storage and deployment in the field...
... a notion fuelling my own obsession with producing the lightest possible foot-print.
The final assembly and test-flying of the sub-scale TELEDRONE is meanwhile delayed until the start of next month, due engineer-come-test-pilot moving to new premises. Console yourselves with the fact that nothing worthwhile was ever achieved in a hurry.
