VTOL Aircraft Nexus By Bell Revealed The 2019 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) has started in Las Vegas and while this is usually an event and exhibition about the latest in electronics and tech sometimes you do see odd entries and concepts thrown in between. One such concept that caught our eye is a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) concept by Bell called the Nexus. While Bell teased of this project in the past, there is a full-scale mock-up of the concept on show this time. It is being envisioned for the future Air Taxi role and is a 6-ducted fan setup.
The propulsion is via 6 ducted fans and the power is hybrid. The ducted fans also will allow for a quiet cabin environment for the passengers onboard. The shrouded propellers also present higher safety than exposed props. As you expect the ducted fans are tilted to be able to control the direction of the craft. Each fan has its own electric motor. It is expected to seat five persons onboard. Using hybrid propulsion will allow for greater operating distances verses a purely all-electric setup. As space at the ground level becomes limited, we must solve transportation challenges in the vertical dimension – and that’s where Bell’s on-demand mobility vision takes hold. The industry has anticipated the reveal of our air taxi for some time, so Bell is very proud of this moment. We believe the design, taken with our strategic approach to build this infrastructure, will lead to the successful deployment of the Bell Nexus to the world. For more information: Bell/Textron Inc 3255 Bell Flight Boulevard Fort Worth, TX 76118 USA www.bellflight.com ***
