Bristol-based Sora Aviation has announced a partnership with Sophrodyne Aerospace, a specialist aerodynamics consultancy based in Glasgow, to advance the aerodynamic design of its 30-seat eVTOL aircraft, the S-1.

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The collaboration will focus on several key areas of the aerodynamics of eVTOL aircraft -including how to model the unsteady aerodynamic interactions between the propulsors and airframes of these flying machines. These interactions are a complex feature of most eVTOL designs - especially during the conversion between vertical and forward flight modes.

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The collaboration aims to advance the rotorcraft community’s current understanding of the aerodynamics of such interactions, and to devise methodologies that will allow the noise produced by tiltrotor eVTOLs such as Sora’s S-1, as well as the flexing and vibration of their structure, to be predicted and modified earlier in the design cycle. A key feature of the work will be the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – based computational tools into the aerodynamic design process.

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A key enabler of the collaboration is Sophrodyne’s unique Vorticity Transport Model (VTM), a high-resolution computational model written specifically to predict the aerodynamics of helicopters and other rotorcraft. A particular strength of the VTM is its ability to represent accurately the complex physics that arises when rotors and wings interfere with each other aerodynamically – this characteristic makes it particularly well-suited to evaluating the S-1’s unique multi-proprotor configuration.

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Furqan, CEO of Sora Aviation, stated: “Having someone of Dr. Brown’s calibre working with us on these important areas — with his deep expertise in rotorcraft aerodynamics —gives us tremendous confidence in the aerodynamic development of the S-1”.

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Sophrodyne, — led by Dr Richard Brown — has a long track record in advancing the rotorcraft industry’s understanding of complex aerodynamic phenomena, and their recent work on downwash and outwash effects, as well as on the Vortex Ring State (VRS), has helped to focus the attention of both the helicopter and the eVTOL communities on these important aerodynamic issues.

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Richard Brown added: “Sora is tackling some of the most important challenges faced by the industry in bringing AAM into the reach of the travelling public. Sophrodyne is excited to be involved in the aerodynamic development of Sora’s S-1aircraft and will provide cutting-edge support in modelling and simulating their unique configuration. We look forward to advancing the boundaries of current eVTOL design in partnership with the forward-looking team at Sora”.

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About Sora Aviation

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Sora Aviation is developing the S-1: a 30-seat eVTOL aircraft designed for affordable, accessible and sustainable air mobility.

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For media inquiries, please contact: hello@soraaviation.com  ​​