XTI Aerospace Provides Downwash Study Update
XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA) has successfully completed its downwash study for the TriFan 600 aircraft, meeting a key Q1 2025 product and engineering milestone. The study analyzed airflows during vertical takeoff and landing, demonstrating superior safety characteristics compared to helicopters.
The study revealed that the TriFan 600's ducted fans better control downward propeller airflow, with outwash dynamic pressure dissipating more quickly and closer to the vehicle. The aircraft's Downwash Caution Area (DCA) measures 53 feet, comparable to the Joby S4.
This milestone is part of six core Q1 engineering objectives, with five remaining tasks to be completed: fuel system design optimization, engine air inlet and exhaust enhancement, flight deck mockup development, FAA type certification application, and Global Finite Element Model (GFEM) update.
XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA) ha completato con successo il suo studio sul flusso d'aria discendente per l'aereo TriFan 600, raggiungendo un importante traguardo di prodotto e ingegneria per il primo trimestre del 2025. Lo studio ha analizzato i flussi d'aria durante il decollo e l'atterraggio verticali, dimostrando caratteristiche di sicurezza superiori rispetto agli elicotteri.
Lo studio ha rivelato che le ventole canalizzate del TriFan 600 controllano meglio il flusso d'aria del propulsore verso il basso, con la pressione dinamica dell'uscita che si dissipa più rapidamente e più vicino al veicolo. L'Area di Cautela per il Flusso D'aria Discendente (DCA) dell'aereo misura 53 piedi, paragonabile a quella del Joby S4.
Questo traguardo fa parte di sei obiettivi ingegneristici fondamentali per il primo trimestre, con cinque compiti rimanenti da completare: ottimizzazione del design del sistema di alimentazione, miglioramento dell'entrata e dell'uscita dell'aria del motore, sviluppo del modello del ponte di volo, richiesta di certificazione di tipo FAA e aggiornamento del Modello Globale agli Elementi Finiti (GFEM).
XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA) ha completado con éxito su estudio de flujo descendente para la aeronave TriFan 600, alcanzando un hito clave de producto e ingeniería para el primer trimestre de 2025. El estudio analizó los flujos de aire durante el despegue y aterrizaje verticales, demostrando características de seguridad superiores en comparación con los helicópteros.
El estudio reveló que los ventiladores ductados del TriFan 600 controlan mejor el flujo de aire del propulsor hacia abajo, con la presión dinámica del flujo de salida disipándose más rápidamente y más cerca del vehículo. El Área de Precaución por Flujo Descendente (DCA) del avión mide 53 pies, comparable al Joby S4.
Este hito es parte de seis objetivos de ingeniería clave para el primer trimestre, con cinco tareas restantes por completar: optimización del diseño del sistema de combustible, mejora de la entrada y salida de aire del motor, desarrollo del modelo de cabina de vuelo, solicitud de certificación de tipo FAA y actualización del Modelo Global de Elementos Finitos (GFEM).
XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA)는 TriFan 600 항공기의 다운워시 연구를 성공적으로 완료하여 2025년 1분기의 주요 제품 및 엔지니어링 이정표를 달성했습니다. 이 연구는 수직 이착륙 중의 공기 흐름을 분석하여 헬리콥터에 비해 우수한 안전 특성을 보여주었습니다.
연구 결과, TriFan 600의 덕트 팬이 하향 프로펠러 공기 흐름을 더 잘 제어하며, 외부 공기 압력이 더 빠르게 dissipates되고 차량에 더 가깝게 발생하는 것으로 나타났습니다. 항공기의 다운워시 주의 구역(DCA)은 53피트로, Joby S4와 유사합니다.
이 이정표는 1분기 핵심 엔지니어링 목표 중 여섯 개의 일환으로, 남은 다섯 가지 작업이 완료되어야 합니다: 연료 시스템 설계 최적화, 엔진 공기 흡입구 및 배기구 개선, 비행 데크 모형 개발, FAA 유형 인증 신청, 글로벌 유한 요소 모델(GFEM) 업데이트.
XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA) a réussi à compléter son étude sur le flux d'air descendant pour l'avion TriFan 600, atteignant un jalon clé en matière de produit et d'ingénierie pour le premier trimestre 2025. L'étude a analysé les flux d'air pendant le décollage et l'atterrissage verticaux, démontrant des caractéristiques de sécurité supérieures par rapport aux hélicoptères.
L'étude a révélé que les ventilateurs canalisés du TriFan 600 contrôlent mieux le flux d'air descendant, avec une pression dynamique d'échappement se dissipant plus rapidement et plus près du véhicule. La zone de précaution pour le flux descendant (DCA) de l'avion mesure 53 pieds, comparable au Joby S4.
Ce jalon fait partie de six objectifs d'ingénierie clés pour le premier trimestre, avec cinq tâches restantes à compléter : optimisation de la conception du système de carburant, amélioration de l'entrée et de la sortie d'air du moteur, développement d'un modèle de cockpit, demande de certification de type FAA et mise à jour du Modèle Global par Éléments Finis (GFEM).
XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA) hat erfolgreich seine Studie zum Abwind des TriFan 600 Flugzeugs abgeschlossen und damit einen wichtigen Produkt- und Ingenieurmeilenstein für das erste Quartal 2025 erreicht. Die Studie analysierte die Luftströme während des vertikalen Starts und der Landung und zeigte überlegene Sicherheitsmerkmale im Vergleich zu Hubschraubern.
Die Studie ergab, dass die ducted Fans des TriFan 600 den abwärts gerichteten Propeller-Luftstrom besser kontrollieren, wobei der dynamische Druck des Ausstoßes schneller und näher am Fahrzeug abgebaut wird. Der Abwind-Warnbereich (DCA) des Flugzeugs misst 53 Fuß und ist vergleichbar mit dem Joby S4.
Dieser Meilenstein ist Teil von sechs zentralen Ingenieurzielen für das erste Quartal, wobei fünf verbleibende Aufgaben noch abzuschließen sind: Optimierung des Designs des Kraftstoffsystems, Verbesserung des Luftansaug- und Abgassystems des Motors, Entwicklung eines Mockups des Cockpits, Antrag auf FAA-Typzertifizierung und Aktualisierung des Globalen Finite-Elemente-Modells (GFEM).
- Successful completion of downwash study milestone
- Superior safety features compared to helicopters in vertical takeoff/landing
- Competitive DCA measurements comparable to industry peers
- Five major engineering milestones still pending completion in Q1 2025
Insights
XTI Aerospace's successful completion of their downwash study represents a meaningful engineering milestone in the development of their TriFan 600 aircraft. The results demonstrate a key competitive advantage over traditional helicopters in terms of safety and operational flexibility during vertical takeoff and landing operations.
The study revealed that the TriFan's ducted fan design creates a more controlled airflow pattern, with the Downwash Caution Area (DCA) measuring just 53 feet - comparable to Joby Aviation's S4, one of the leading eVTOL competitors. This technical achievement has practical implications for real-world operations, potentially allowing the aircraft to operate in more confined spaces than helicopters with similar payload capacity.
From a development perspective, this milestone is the first of six engineering objectives XTI has targeted for Q1 2025. The remaining milestones focus on critical systems including fuel management, propulsion optimization, cockpit design, and structural modeling - all essential elements for advancing toward FAA type certification.
While this progress is encouraging, investors should recognize that XTI still faces significant challenges typical of aerospace development programs, including the completion of the remaining engineering milestones, successful prototype testing, certification hurdles, and eventual production scalability. The company's
This downwash study validation helps de-risk one aspect of the TriFan 600's operational profile, but represents just one step in a comprehensive development roadmap that will ultimately determine XTI's ability to successfully bring this innovative aircraft to market.
Completion of Downwash Study Meets a Key Product and Engineering Q1 Milestone
"The TriFan 600 will hold a key advantage over helicopters- its downward propeller airflow is designed to be controlled by the ducted fans," said Dave Ambrose, VP of Engineering at XTI Aircraft. "As a result, when the airflow reaches the ground, the outwash dynamic pressure dissipates more quickly and closer to the vehicle. This means a person can stand closer to the TriFan during vertical takeoff and landing without being blown over, enhancing both safety and operational flexibility."
"Our product and engineering team is growing and we continue to outperform expectations," said Don Purdy, SVP Business and Program Development, XTI Aerospace. "The downwash study is just one of the many analyses we have conducted on the TriFan 600 aircraft, and it's always a great validation when the results exceed our expectations."
Figure 1 shows how the five-foot diameter aft fan duct in the fuselage helps to constrain the airflow stream. Figure 2 shows how the TriFan compares with two heavy helicopters. The felt dynamic pressure (flow parallel to the ground) is greater if you are directly under the TriFan, but it quickly dissipates below that of the helicopters the further you get from the vehicle. Importantly, the FAA has recently defined a Downwash Caution Area (DCA) as anywhere the velocity exceeds 34.5 mph or 15 m/s. Figure 3 shows that the TriFan's DCA is 53 feet which is very close to the Joby S4 DCA.
In a previous market update, the Company outlined six core product and engineering milestones for Q1, listed below, beginning with the downwash/outwash study and leading up to the launch of the "Sparrow" subscale working model in early Q2.
Completed:
- Downwash / Outwash Study – Analyze airflows generated by the aircraft during vertical takeoff and landing to evaluate safety and performance
To be Completed:
- Fuel System Design – Optimize fuel system design to reduce unusable fuel and increase fuel capacity
- Engine Air Inlets and Exhaust – Optimize air intake and exhaust design to enhance performance and efficiency of the propulsion system
- Flight Deck Mockup – Develop a flight deck human factors mockup to design and evaluate and optimize ergonomics, pilot controls, and vision polar
- Type Certification Application – Formally apply to the FAA for type certification of the TriFan 600
- Global Finite Element Model (GFEM) of the latest configuration – Update the comprehensive structural model to evaluate and optimize the aircraft's strength and load paths under various loading conditions
About XTI Aerospace, Inc.
XTI Aerospace (XTIAerospace.com) (Nasdaq: XTIA) is the parent company of XTI Aircraft Company, an aviation business based near
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including without limitation, statements about the products under development by XTI, the advantages of XTI's technology, and XTI's customers, plans and strategies are forward-looking statements.
Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including "believe," "continue," "could," "would," "will," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "target," "projects," or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts, and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by XTI Aerospace and its management, are inherently uncertain, and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations. XTI undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that might subsequently arise. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the risk factors discussed from time to time in XTI's filings with the SEC, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2024, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Contacts
General inquiries:
Email: contact@xtiaerospace.com
Web: https://xtiaerospace.com/contact/
Investor Relations:
Crescendo Communications
Tel: +1 212-671-1020
Email: XTIA@crescendo-ir.com
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SOURCE XTI Aerospace, Inc.
FAQ
What are the key findings of XTI Aerospace's (XTIA) downwash study for the TriFan 600?
What is the Downwash Caution Area (DCA) for XTIA's TriFan 600?
What are XTIA's remaining Q1 2025 engineering milestones for the TriFan 600?
How does the TriFan 600's downwash compare to traditional helicopters?
