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- BETA Alia-250 vs Volocopter VoloCity
BETA Alia-250 vs Volocopter VoloCity
Overview Electric Flying Vehicle
|
Model
|
Alia-250 (A250)
VoloCity |
|
Manufacturer
|
BETA Technologies (USA)
Volocopter GmbH (Germany) |
|
Announced
|
2020
2019 |
|
launched
|
2020 (prototype), ongoing test flights
Expected entry into service by 2025 (under certification) |
|
Base Price
|
≈ $4 million (estimated)
$300,000–$350,000 |
Electric Flying Vehicle Dimensions & Build
|
Aircraft Type
|
eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing)
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) air taxi |
|
Length
|
~9.3 m (30.5 ft) |
|
Wingspan / Rotor Diameter
|
~50 ft (15 m)
18 rotors on a circular frame, ~9.3 m overall diameter |
|
Height
|
~2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
|
Empty Weight
|
~700 kg (1,543 lbs) |
|
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
|
~6,000 lb (2,720 kg)
900 kg (1,984 lbs) |
|
Passenger Capacity
|
1 pilot + 5 passengers
2 (including pilot, later autonomous) |
|
Cargo Capacity
|
Up to 1,400 lb (635 kg)
Small luggage compartment (~20–25 kg / 55 lbs) |
|
Landing Gear Type
|
Fixed wheeled
Fixed skid-type landing gear |
Power & Propulsion
|
Battery Type
|
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion battery system |
|
Battery Capacity
|
~35 kWh (modular packs) |
|
Battery Brand
|
Custom aviation-grade packs (partnerships with multiple suppliers, undisclosed) |
|
Charging Input Voltage
|
480V AC, 3-phase, 60 Hz
High-voltage DC charging infrastructure |
|
Charging Power
|
~350 kVA (fast charge)
Up to 100 kW (target) |
|
Charging Time
|
Fast swap in minutes / ~60 minutes standard charge
|
|
Solar / Hybrid Assist
|
None (battery-electric only)
battery-electric only |
|
Motor
|
5 total (4 lift, 1 pusher)
18 electric motors (each with its own rotor) |
|
Total Power Output
|
~100 kW peak combined |
|
Propulsion System
|
Distributed electric propulsion
Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) with fixed-pitch propellers |
|
transmission
|
Direct drive (electric)
Direct drive (no mechanical transmission – each motor directly drives a rotor) |
Electric Flying Vehicle Performance
|
Cruising speed
|
~138 mph (222 km/h)
~90 km/h (56 mph) |
|
Top Speed
|
~138 mph (222 km/h)
110 km/h (68 mph) |
|
Maximum Range
|
~250 miles (400 km)
~35 km (22 miles) |
|
Endurance (Flight Time)
|
~2 hours (estimated)
~20 minutes (with reserves) |
|
Climb Rate
|
~6 m/s (1,180 ft/min) |
|
Service Ceiling (Max Altitude)
|
~7,874 ft (2,400 m)
~2,000 m (6,560 ft) |
|
Takeoff / Landing Type
|
VTOL & CTOL capable
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) |
|
Noise Level (dB)
|
~90% quieter than helicopters (exact dB not given)
~65 dB at 75 m (designed for urban low-noise operation) |
|
Flight Modes
|
Vertical, cruise, transition
Piloted, semi-autonomous, autonomous (future certification stages) |
Safety & Systems
|
Avionics
|
Integrated modern cockpit (Garmin G3000 in CX300 variant)
Redundant fly-by-wire control, navigation, and flight management systems |
|
Flight Control
|
Fly-by-wire with redundant propulsion
Triple-redundant autonomous flight control with pilot interface |
|
Safety Features
|
Distributed electric motors, crash-tested batteries
18 independent motors (fault tolerance)
Redundant power distribution
Real-time diagnostics
Low noise, low vibration design |
|
Emergency Landing System
|
Parachute recovery system (airframe parachute) |
|
Certifications
|
In FAA certification process
Pursuing EASA SC-VTOL and FAA type certification |
Interior & Comfort
|
Seating Layout
|
1 + 5 (pilot + passengers)
2 seats (side-by-side pilot + passenger) |
|
Cabin Type
|
Passenger / cargo modular design
Enclosed cabin with wide windows for panoramic views |
|
Infotainment & Displays
|
Modern avionics displays
Minimalistic digital flight display, passenger information screen planned |
|
Storage Compartments
|
~200 cu ft (5.7 m³) cargo volume
Small rear luggage space for carry-on bags |
|
Other Features
|
Flexible layout for medical, logistics, passenger use
Climate control
Lightweight, ergonomic seating
Large windows for sightseeing |
Capacities
|
Passenger Capacity
|
Up to 6 persons (pilot + 5)
2 (1 pilot + 1 passenger) |
|
Payload Capacity
|
~1,400 lb (635 kg)
~200 kg (441 lbs, including passengers + luggage) |
|
Cargo Capacity
|
~200 cu ft (5.7 m³)
~20–25 kg luggage allowance |
Disclaimer Note
We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct
