AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 40

PILOT BRIEFING

FUTURE FLIGHT |

Lilium Jet
Jet power in an eVTOL
BY THOMAS A. HORNE

AMONG THE BURGEONING crop of nascent
eVTOL designs, the Lilium Jet may be
the most unusual. Yes, the canard-configuration, five-seat, fixed-gear Lilium
Jet derives its power from batteries, but
its thrust comes from what the company
calls electric jet engines-36 of them, to
be exact. These are mounted in ducts
within the trailing edges of four articulating flap-like structures. For vertical
takeoffs, the flaps can be positioned vertically so that their thrust can be aimed
downward. Once in the air, they transition
to the horizontal for forward flight. This
makes the Lilium Jet something different.
Unlike some tiltrotor eVTOL designs, the
Lilium Jet is in a class of its own-a tiltjet, maybe?
The Munich-based Lilium company
was founded in 2015 and its CEO and

40 | AOPA PILOT September 2020

managing director, Daniel Wiegand, says
the Lilium Jet was designed with safety
and simplicity in mind. There's no tail, no
rudder, no water cooling, no propellers,
multiple levels of redundancy to keep it in
the air in case of engine failure, and a ballistic parachute for the worst situations.
The engines have just one moving part-
the rotating fan blades-and require no
maintenance.
A full-scale, unmanned, remote-controlled prototype first flew in 2017. Initially,
the plan is for a pilot to control the aircraft,
but the ultimate goal is autonomous flight.
The cabin has two front seats, three back
seats, and baggage area at the rear.
Lilium is mysterious when it comes to
certain details but allows that the jet will
have low noise levels, a top speed of 162
knots, and a maximum range of 162 nm.

It will be as energy-efficient per kilometer as an electrically powered car, Lilium
says, but travel five times as fast. Apart
from that, we're left with our imaginations.
I once planned a visit to headquarters but
was told, "There's nothing to see here."
However, the company has been in the
news lately. It has reportedly raised $340
million in funding. Entry into service is
planned for 2025.
Lilium's business plan includes its
own air taxi service. Like Uber, customers
would use an app to call up a ride, meet
the aircraft at a rooftop or other suitable
landing pad, and be whisked away. Check
out the website for some cool videos of a
test flight.
lilium.com

EMAIL tom.horne@aopa.org



http://www.lilium.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com