Supernal Plans to Launch Flying Taxis by 2028

Hyundai Motor Group's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company Supernal LLC has unveiled the S-A2 product concept for an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The pilot-plus-four-passenger vehicle marks the latest milestone in Supernal's roadmap to commercialize safe, efficient and affordable daily passenger air travel. Building on the vision concept S-A1 introduced by the company at CES 2020, the S-A2 combines innovative aviation and aerospace engineering with Hyundai Motor Group automotive aesthetic design to create a new form of transportation that will move people from point A to point B faster in urban areas. As Supernal prepares for market entry in 2028, it will achieve commercial aviation safety levels and enable affordable production of its vehicles. Jaiwon Shin, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman and Supernal CEO, said, "Supernal has taken on the mission of creating the right product and the right market at the right time from the very beginning. The introduction of the S-A2 demonstrates our unwavering commitment to fulfilling this mission with a safe and efficient aircraft design that provides a clear path to market entry. Leveraging our talented team of 600 people, the broad technical and commercial capabilities of Hyundai Motor Group and trusted aviation suppliers from around the world, Supernal is ready to usher in a new era of flight." The S-A2 is a V-tail aircraft designed to cruise at 120 miles per hour at 1,500 feet to meet urban operation needs initially comprising trips of 25 to 40 miles. It features a distributed electric propulsion architecture with eight fully rotating rotors. When in service, Supernal's aircraft will operate as quietly as a dishwasher: 65 dB during vertical takeoff and landing phases and 45 dB during horizontal cruise. The aircraft was designed with safety as a priority, focusing on sustainability and passenger comfort. Designed to meet global commercial aviation safety standards, the aircraft has a robust fuselage structure that includes redundant components in critical systems such as powertrains, flight controls and avionics. The fully tilting rotor configuration will provide the aircraft with unique efficiency in both the vertical lift and horizontal cruise phases of flight. To maintain superior quality while remaining cost-effective, the aircraft will be produced utilizing Hyundai's mass production capabilities. Ben Diachun, Supernal Technology Director, said, "Supernal's product concept aircraft is the result of the creativity and hard work of our worldwide team. The S-A2 was designed to fully benefit from advances in electric powertrains that will define next-generation aviation. From there, we will transform this concept into a revolutionary commercial product." As Supernal continues to optimize its aircraft for certification, mass production and expanded use cases, the company is also focusing on internal modularity and battery upgradeability. This includes the ability to replace the battery module as technology advances. Source