How Blue Spirit Aero's Dragonfly is set to revolutionize aviation… with help from Thales's Critical Computer

What is the challenge today in moving toward autonomy and green aviation?

The challenges facing aviation were turned upside down during the Covid crisis, with unprecedented societal demands notably regarding the environmental footprint of aviation. This prompted the aviation community to seek to regain the upper hand in public opinion and trigger the future of aviation by designing aircraft unlike anything seen before, leading to the emergence of eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft) , for example.

In terms of technology, the emergence of new aircraft is closely linked to the issue of energy. For a long time, oil was used as the main fuel for all means of transport, but with new expectations, alternative solutions had to be found. The convergence of this technological and societal context during the health crisis made 2020 a pivotal year, when I decided to instigate the hydrogen alternative I believe in, with Blue Spirit Aero! 

Why is Dragonfly the ideal project to build tomorrow’s aviation?

My idea was to start from scratch to shape a sustainable future. While Airbus announced a major programme for a 100-seat transport aircraft, ZEROe, I was more inspired by the Wright Brothers' bottom-up approach, which was to begin with a small four-seater aircraft.

Furthermore, with oil becoming less and less acceptable in air transport, electric power is the obvious choice, but batteries have many limitations in terms of range, power and availability.

Convinced that we can do better, I believe in hydrogen electric technologies as the solution. Thanks to its higher density and the delivery of the necessary power separately from the range requirement, hydrogen offers greater agility and range than battery electric solutions. With my expertise and knowledge of hydrogen technologies and aircraft design acquired over 30 years, we have created a unique design with Blue Spirit Aero that takes into account all the characteristics of this peculiar fuel.

The Dragonfly's unusual appearance comes from its 12 small electro-propulsive units , called ‘pods’, which offer a number of advantages. Placing the tanks outside the fuselage is essential to avoid any risk relative to leakage, and managing 12 small modules that are independent of each other is also simpler, as the ability to divide the power output ensures flight safety.

What does the collaboration between Blue Spirit Aero and Thales involve?

These 12 independent pods are like 12 soloists who need a conductor to harmonize the whole ensemble, providing the right degree of balance and synchronization at all times. That conductor is a computer supplied by Thales: the Critical Computer!

This computer will control the aircraft and will eventually, at a later stage, be crucial in achieving differential propulsion. This involves creating a controlled asymmetry that allows the aircraft to be steered without creating any risky consequences.

The challenge is also to offer a certifiable control system, which is why we need a real aerospace expert such as Thales, who not only knows how to develop the solution but also how to meet the expectations of the certification authorities, who are very receptive to our redundancy efforts. Indeed, the aircraft can withstand up to eight failures, which is a real advantage if you want to fly in urban areas, for example.

Finally, the Thales Critical Computer is a modular platform to which we can add our own applications.

What are the next steps for the project?

We have just achieved a significant milestone with the first rollout of the full-scale functional prototype (pictured above), which is intended for ground test runs and engine failure management. We gave a demonstration in Le Mans on June 10, central France (also the scene of some of the Wright Brothers’ greatest exploits!), to 300 people to show that our aircraft is functional. It was also an opportunity to prove that hydrogen refuelling is possible in the field, which is a world first.

These ground tests are essential to understand the challenges and issues involved before taking to the skies. This final stage will take place over the coming months and will be carried out by a test pilot with a new, optimized demonstrator. Following this, the certification phase can begin.

To start with, we want to market a four-seater aircraft primarily intended for training professional pilots. We have already received about 300 letters of intent for the coming years.

This aircraft could then be scaled up to six, eight then 14 seats for regional transport, using the same structural principles (pods, computer, etc.). Creating a remotely piloted drone version is also a possibility for both civil and military applications (surveillance, freight, etc.). The future of aviation certainly looks bright!

Thank you, Olivier!