Puffin (aircraft)

Puffin
Puffin
Role	Personal electric aircraft
National origin	United States
Status	One-third scale model built, not flown
Number built	0

The Puffin is an American proposed hover-capable, electric-powered, low-noise, personal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology-concept proprotor aircraft. It would be capable of flying a single person at a speed of 150 miles per hour (241 km/h). Range is expected to be less than 50 miles (80 km) with 2010-vintage Lithium-iron-phosphate battery technology. The design has a 13.5 foot (4.1 m) wingspan and stands 12 feet (3.65 m) tall on the ground in its take-off or landing configuration.^[1]

Development

As of January 2010^[update], NASA expected to achieve the first flight of a one-third scale, hover-capable Puffin demonstrator by March 2010. By mid-summer 2010, they hoped to "begin investigating how well it transitions from cruise to hover flight".^[2]

As of August 2010^[update], the one-third scale model of the Puffin was on display at the NASA Langley campus for the filming of the Discovery network series Dean of Invention. The Puffin simulator was also demonstrated. The Puffin is slated to appear in the eighth and final episode of the show.^{[3][dated info]}

Specifications (expected)

Data from NASA^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Wingspan: 13.5 ft (4.1 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 150 mph (240 km/h; 130 kn)
• Range: 50 mi (43 nmi; 80 km) expected range "no more" than this

See also

• Electric aircraft
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dillow, Clay (2010-01-19). "NASA's Puffin Is a Stealthy, Personal Tilt-Rotor Aircraft". Popular Science. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-01/nasas-puffin-aircraft-stealthy-one-man-vtol-aircraft. Retrieved 2010-01-22. 
2. ^ Choi, Charles Q. (2010-01-19). "Electric Icarus: NASA Designs a One-Man Stealth Plane". Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nasa-one-man-stealth-plane. Retrieved 2010-01-22. 
3. ^ NASA TV's This Week @NASA, August 13, 2010-08-13, accessed 2010-09-10.

External links

• NASA.gov: The Puffin: A Passion for Personal Flight, 2010-02-08.
• Electric Icarus: NASA Designs a One-Man Stealth Plane: Could the Puffin, an electric-powered flying suit, change the way we use the sky in war and peace?, Charles Q. Choi, Scientific American, 2010-01-19
• Meet the “Puffin,” NASA’s One-Man Electric Plane, Discover Magazine, 2010-01-20.
• NASA’s Puffin Is Way Cooler Than a Jetpack, Jason Paur, Wired, 2010-01-21.
• NASA Low Noise, Electric VTOL Personal Air Vehicle, computer graphic video.