Kelekona

Kelekona is an American aircraft developer founded in New York City that is designing what it calls a different class of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Instead of small air taxis, its approach is mass transit: one aircraft designed to carry 40 passengers plus a pilot, or a cargo payload of 10,000 lb, flying between hubs.

Aircraft design

• Capacity: 40 passengers plus pilot, or 10,000 lb of cargo
• Lifting body airframe made of 3D printed composite and aluminum, intended to improve performance in forward flight
• Fan-based propulsion
• Swappable battery to cut turnaround time on hub-to-hub routes
• Stereo cameras and radar giving 100 miles of added awareness to detect and avoid unknown aircraft, bird strikes, weather and uncharted infrastructure
• Example range: Los Angeles to San Francisco in about one hour

Markets served

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

Company facts

• Founded in New York City
• Develops a large passenger and cargo eVTOL
• Unveiling video and team introductions published on its website and YouTube channel

Contact

Email: relations@kelekona.com