Photo: Solvay
Once you have a great eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) concept ready to roll, it's time to find the right manufacturing partners. In the case of the French aircraft developer Ascendance Flight Technologies, these are an advanced materials expert and an innovative manufacturer in the aerospace sector.
Ascendance, a Toulouse-based aviation startup, gave us a glimpse of its VTOL concept more than two years ago. The company was founded by four former Airbus experts who have worked on the e-Fan team. Their VTOL concept wasn't a fully electric one. It combined a conventional propeller at the front with an electric motor connected to the three fans mounted on the wings and the front of the aircraft.
Towards the end of 2021, the French startup released more information about its flagship product. Officially named Atea, the final concept boasted an eight-propeller configuration with two fixed wings and two propellers.
The hybrid propulsion system, combining batteries with conventional kerosene, ensured a range of nearly 250 miles (400 km), significantly more than all-electric eVTOLs. And, even though it couldn’t promise zero emissions, it was able to drop emission levels down to 80% compared to conventional helicopters.
Atea was also described as a more efficient alternative to helicopters in terms of noise pollution. According to Ascendance, Atea was four times quieter than a commercial helicopter thanks to a disruptive duct design, with vertical rotors integrated into the wings. As a mid-range hybrid aircraft, Atea would be best suited for two-hour passenger trips in urban areas or from one city to another.
The company's initial propulsion system developed into a comprehensive solution that can work with any existing aircraft, not just the Atea VTOL. Called Sterna, this technology integrates a thermal combustion module that can be powered by more than one alternative to conventional fuel, including SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and hydrogen. This will help lower emission levels even more compared to standard helicopters.
Ascendance is now ready to take the next step. Solvay and Airborne are the two partners that will help bring the Atea concept to life. Solvay will provide its expertise in advanced composite materials, structural adhesives, and polymers.
Airborne is also a composites specialist known for combining aerospace manufacturing with state-of-the-art digital automation systems. The innovative materials and techniques are supposed to ensure that Atea is an efficient, sustainable product, and large-scale manufacturing can be achieved with a minimal environmental footprint.
This partnership comes after another milestone this year when the French startup got a €21 million ($22.6 million) investment. It also claims to have secured nearly 250 LOI (letters of intent) for the purchase of its Atea aircraft, plus separate agreements for the Sterna hybrid propulsion system. As planned, Ascendance is on track and ready to launch its hybrid air taxi in 2026.
Towards the end of 2021, the French startup released more information about its flagship product. Officially named Atea, the final concept boasted an eight-propeller configuration with two fixed wings and two propellers.
The hybrid propulsion system, combining batteries with conventional kerosene, ensured a range of nearly 250 miles (400 km), significantly more than all-electric eVTOLs. And, even though it couldn’t promise zero emissions, it was able to drop emission levels down to 80% compared to conventional helicopters.
Atea was also described as a more efficient alternative to helicopters in terms of noise pollution. According to Ascendance, Atea was four times quieter than a commercial helicopter thanks to a disruptive duct design, with vertical rotors integrated into the wings. As a mid-range hybrid aircraft, Atea would be best suited for two-hour passenger trips in urban areas or from one city to another.
The company's initial propulsion system developed into a comprehensive solution that can work with any existing aircraft, not just the Atea VTOL. Called Sterna, this technology integrates a thermal combustion module that can be powered by more than one alternative to conventional fuel, including SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and hydrogen. This will help lower emission levels even more compared to standard helicopters.
Ascendance is now ready to take the next step. Solvay and Airborne are the two partners that will help bring the Atea concept to life. Solvay will provide its expertise in advanced composite materials, structural adhesives, and polymers.
Airborne is also a composites specialist known for combining aerospace manufacturing with state-of-the-art digital automation systems. The innovative materials and techniques are supposed to ensure that Atea is an efficient, sustainable product, and large-scale manufacturing can be achieved with a minimal environmental footprint.
This partnership comes after another milestone this year when the French startup got a €21 million ($22.6 million) investment. It also claims to have secured nearly 250 LOI (letters of intent) for the purchase of its Atea aircraft, plus separate agreements for the Sterna hybrid propulsion system. As planned, Ascendance is on track and ready to launch its hybrid air taxi in 2026.
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