Rahul SomvanshiAlauda Aeronautics, the electric aviation company behind the Airspeeder racing series, has revealed its latest flying car, the MK4. The MK4 is the first Airspeeder designed specifically for crewed racing flights as the league moves closer to enabling its racers to compete from the tracks in the skies. The MK4 is one of the first hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and it was designed and built in Australia at Alauda Aeronautics’ test facility in Adelaide, South Australia.
The Airspeeder is an electric vertical takeoff and landing racing league headquartered in London, and it exists as an entity of Alauda Aeronautics, which designs, engineers, and builds the league’s eVTOL racing aircraft called “Airspeeders.” Since its initial launch, Alauda and Airspeeder have been assembling teams of racers to compete in development races on the way to a full global competition called the EXA Series.
The MK4 is reportedly capable of reaching a maximum top speed of 360km/h, with a range expectation of 300km and handling comparable to that of an F1 car. It only weighs 950kg and can produce up to 1,000kW of power. The company is now calling on teams and vehicle manufacturers to get involved and help them revolutionize a new motorsport.
The Airspeeder racing league has been testing its eVTOLs remotely piloted using virtual cockpits on the ground. With the development of the MK4, eVTOLs piloted from the sky are now one step closer to reality. Crewed races featuring the Airspeeder MK4 are scheduled to begin in 2024, with team entries now open for the series.
The core technology of the MK4 is a Thunderstrike Hydrogen Turbogenerator, which Airspeeder says can offer 300 kilometers of range. Its 1,000 kW turbogenerator powers the entire racing eVTOL, including the aircraft’s “Thunderstrike” motor that incorporates a unique 3D-printed combustor developed for rocket engines. It helps keep the hydrogen flame temperature low while reducing nitrous oxide emissions.
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The MK4 is an impressive feat of engineering and design, with its spacey-looking exterior, cutting-edge technology, and impressive performance specs. The world eagerly awaits the crewed races featuring the Airspeeder MK4, which promise to be a truly revolutionary new motorsport.
