Synergy | |
---|---|
Artist's concept | |
Role | Air Mobility |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | DBT Aero |
Designer | John McGinnis |
Status | Under development |
Number built | None |
The Synergy Aircraft Synergy is a proposed five-seat, single-engine, kit aircraft, designed by John McGinnis of Kalispell, Montana and intended for production by his company, Synergy Aircraft. [1] [2]
The aircraft's closed wing design, termed a "double box tail", is intended to lower induced drag and be stall resistant, along with boundary layer control methods. [2] Many of the details are disclosed in US patent 8657226.
Development was started in 2010 to develop the Synergy as a future kit airplane. The Synergy is the first aircraft that was designed to use the 200 hp (149 kW) DeltaHawk V-4 engine. An electric-powered 1/4 scale version of the aircraft has been built and flown via radio control. [2]
The Synergy design was unveiled at the 2011 CAFE Foundation electric aircraft symposium. [3] The aircraft was intended to compete in the 2011 NASA/CAFE Green Flight Challenge, [4] but its funding and engine were delayed, forcing the team to withdraw from the competition. [5]
After receiving the DeltaHawk engine in December 2011 work resumed and a funding drive was launched to complete the prototype. Intended as a Kickstarter crowdfunding project, the initial project application and appeal were rejected on the basis of not fitting in with Kickstarter's creative arts focus. [6] On 13 May 2012, however, Kickstarter informed McGinnis that they had reconsidered and that the project was approved. [7] The project raised US$ 95,627 gross funds.
By mid-December 2012 McGinnis indicated that the Kickstarter campaign had raised US$80,000 and that he was intending to have a flying proof-of-concept aircraft at AirVenture 2013. He also stated that if the aircraft is not complete then he will not have a display there. The Kickstarter campaign also attracted a lot of interest, but answering email and phones calls has slowed work on the prototype down. [8]
In May 2023 DBT Aero co-founder McGinnis was let go and replaced by Thomas Hatfield as CTO. [9]
In July 2023 the first full scale prototype received its FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the experimental category which allowed to conduct flight tests. [10]
Data from Experimental Aircraft Association and Synergy [2] [11]
General characteristics
Performancemin level flight speed
Synergy | |
---|---|
Artist's concept | |
Role | Air Mobility |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | DBT Aero |
Designer | John McGinnis |
Status | Under development |
Number built | None |
The Synergy Aircraft Synergy is a proposed five-seat, single-engine, kit aircraft, designed by John McGinnis of Kalispell, Montana and intended for production by his company, Synergy Aircraft. [1] [2]
The aircraft's closed wing design, termed a "double box tail", is intended to lower induced drag and be stall resistant, along with boundary layer control methods. [2] Many of the details are disclosed in US patent 8657226.
Development was started in 2010 to develop the Synergy as a future kit airplane. The Synergy is the first aircraft that was designed to use the 200 hp (149 kW) DeltaHawk V-4 engine. An electric-powered 1/4 scale version of the aircraft has been built and flown via radio control. [2]
The Synergy design was unveiled at the 2011 CAFE Foundation electric aircraft symposium. [3] The aircraft was intended to compete in the 2011 NASA/CAFE Green Flight Challenge, [4] but its funding and engine were delayed, forcing the team to withdraw from the competition. [5]
After receiving the DeltaHawk engine in December 2011 work resumed and a funding drive was launched to complete the prototype. Intended as a Kickstarter crowdfunding project, the initial project application and appeal were rejected on the basis of not fitting in with Kickstarter's creative arts focus. [6] On 13 May 2012, however, Kickstarter informed McGinnis that they had reconsidered and that the project was approved. [7] The project raised US$ 95,627 gross funds.
By mid-December 2012 McGinnis indicated that the Kickstarter campaign had raised US$80,000 and that he was intending to have a flying proof-of-concept aircraft at AirVenture 2013. He also stated that if the aircraft is not complete then he will not have a display there. The Kickstarter campaign also attracted a lot of interest, but answering email and phones calls has slowed work on the prototype down. [8]
In May 2023 DBT Aero co-founder McGinnis was let go and replaced by Thomas Hatfield as CTO. [9]
In July 2023 the first full scale prototype received its FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the experimental category which allowed to conduct flight tests. [10]
Data from Experimental Aircraft Association and Synergy [2] [11]
General characteristics
Performancemin level flight speed