Kelekona

Kelekona is an aircraft developer founded in New York City. It is designing an electric vertical take off and landing aircraft, known as an eVTOL. The company's approach is mass transit rather than small air taxis. One aircraft is designed to move many passengers or a large cargo load between hubs.

The aircraft is designed to carry 40 passengers plus a pilot, or a cargo payload of 10,000 lb. Its lifting body airframe is made from 3D printed composite and aluminum, and the design aims to improve performance in forward flight. The propulsion uses fans, with four fan units shown on the site.

A swappable battery is meant to cut turnaround time on hub to hub routes. Stereo cameras and radar give the aircraft 100 miles of added awareness. The sensors help it detect and avoid unknown aircraft, bird strikes, weather and uncharted infrastructure. The site gives Los Angeles to San Francisco in about one hour as an example range, which shows the intended hub to hub use.

Kelekona describes three uses beyond passenger transport. For cargo, vertical take off and landing needs only a small footprint. For military customers, the aircraft could move equipment, soldiers or an entire platoon. For medical use, it is offered as an air ambulance for critical transport.

The design is presented as one airframe that can serve several missions. Passenger, cargo, military and medical uses all rely on the same lifting body, fans, battery and sensor systems. The site is organized around these parts, with separate pages for the approach, the body, the fans, the battery, the sensors and the range.

Kelekona has published an unveiling video and team introductions on its website and its YouTube channel. The company is also active on Instagram, and the site offers a direct contact link for enquiries.

Services

• Passenger eVTOL aircraft
• Cargo eVTOL transport
• Military transport
• Air ambulance
• Swappable battery system
• Stereo camera and radar sensing
• Hub to hub mass transit