DENVER — XTI Aircraft Company (XTI) has entered into a preliminary agreement with Honeywell International for the HTS900 engine to power XTI’s first prototype, a two-thirds piloted subscale of the TriFan 600 vertical takeoff airplane. Honeywell will also provide an additional engine for use in XTI’s Ground Propulsion Test System.
XTI officials had said earlier that the company plans to fly the subscale as its first prototype or technology demonstrator within two years.
According to XTI’s Chief Engineer, Dr. 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.”
The TriFan 600 is a six-seat aircraft that will 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 a transition 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.
I’m surprised there hasn’t been a reply. It’s probably safe to assume RPM would not be sufficiently responsive. Unless… it was a hybrid electric. More likely, however, it will be pitch control.
Is the plan to have the fans with pilot variable pitch settings for take off hover and cruise, or is it planned to use RPM variations to control take off hover and forward flight?