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| The XTI Aircraft Company’s TriFan 600 design. Photo: XTI Aircraft Company |
[Avionics Today 08-10-2016] Honeywell’s aerospace division will supply its HTS900 engine for use in XTI Aircraft Company’s first prototype, a two-thirds piloted subscale of the TriFan 600 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) airplane. Honeywell will also provide an additional engine for use in XTI’s Ground Propulsion Test System.
XTI made headlines last year after launching a crowdfunding campaign that offered investment opportunity to the general public. The company will build, test and fly the subscale as its first prototype or technology demonstrator within two years. According to XTI’s Chief Engineer, Dennis Olcott, “XTI selected Honeywell because the HTS900 turboshaft is the newest addition to Honeywell’s family of engines incorporating a next-generation dual-centrifugal compressor architecture.”
XTI’s TriFan 600 is a six-seat aircraft that aims to have the speed, range and comfort of a business jet and the ability to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. Using three ducted fans, the TriFan 600 lifts off vertically and its two wing fans rotate forward for transitioning to cruise speed, at 400 miles an hour and a range of up to 1,600 miles.
XTI will build an operational propulsion jet stand that will house the Honeywell engine, drive train system, fans and flight controls. Once these important milestones are reached, XTI will complete development of the two-thirds piloted flying prototype.