The Pegasus VBJ will be the first aircraft to provide true business jet performance coupled with helicopter convenience…
The Pegasus Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) is more jet than overgrown drone. It is designed to operate in two modes: As a business jet from a conventional runway, or as a vertical takeoff & landing (VTOL) aircraft that can hover and land in a confined port. The advantages, are higher speeds and greater range. The mode of choice, is beast.
Developed by South African Pegasus Universal Aerospace, the VBJ is the typical small-size private jet you’d find in any airport business terminal. None are rocking wings like these though. The airplane uses fans in those wings to provide vertical lift which can then transition to forward flight — something a fixed wing would struggle with.
Four fans in the wings provide downward thrust, and once airborne, the power switches to the rear twin fans that kick in an assisted 1715 kW. Since the system is semi-auto, you can phone-in the pilot training. With nine people on board, the Evtol will cruise at 760 km/h — four times the speed of traditional helicopters.
The range depends on the take off method though; a conventional runway takeoff uses less power and extends the range to 4,400 km, whereas a vertical takeoff chews up extra battery cells and limits the range to 2,124 km.
You’ll always have a productive business meeting onboard, with a larger, more luxurious cabin and with low noise and minimal vibrations; and because it’s capable of landing virtually anywhere — roads, parks, backyards, yachts — airports and heliports become redundant, reducing travel time for passengers. With smoother, faster flight and greater range, the Pegasus VBJ will do its best work in medical situations or maccas runs – both have high priority.
By Bill Varetimidis
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