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Opener Inc., a pioneer of aero vehicles for consumer travel, today revealed BlackFly; the world’s first ultralight all-electric fixed-wing extreme short/vertical take-off and landing (ESTOL/VTOL) aircraft.
BlackFly is a single-seat personal aerial vehicle (PAV) designed and built for a new world of three-dimensional transportation.
BlackFly has simple controls requiring no special skills to master and operate safely. Though BlackFly has full amphibious capabilities, it is primarily designed to easily operate from small grassy areas and travel distances of up to 40 miles at a speed of 72 mph.
“Opener is re-energizing the art of flight with a safe and affordable flying vehicle that can free its operators from the everyday restrictions of ground transportation,” said Marcus Leng, CEO.
“We will offer competitive pricing in an endeavour to democratize three-dimensional personal transportation. Safety has been our primary driving goal in the development of this new technology. BlackFly operators will be required to complete company-mandated vehicle familiarization and operator training. In Canada, ultralight pilot licences are also required.”
The Opener team has spent the last nine years in stealth mode, designing, developing, and testing new innovative technologies which have now into the zero-emission BlackFly vehicles.
Fault-tolerant design and triple modular redundancy reside at the core of these vehicles.
Eight propulsion systems, spread across two wings, provide for multiple-failure security. Years of continuous testing, combined with 1,000-plus flights and 10,000-plus miles flown, form the bedrock of Opener’s development program.
After working collaboratively with Transport Canada for several years, on July 6, 2018, Opener received permission to operate BlackFly as a basic ultralight aircraft.
Opener hopes to continue to collaborate with Transport Canada to safely and progressively expand the use and operating profile of these uniquely capable vehicles.
Opener’s long-term vision is to integrate these highly-efficient vehicles into a rural/urban commuting network. These networks would be powered by renewable energy sources requiring only a fraction of the transportation energy used currently.
DREAM OF FLIGHT
“The future of aviation begins today,” said Alan Eustace, director at Opener and former senior vice-president of knowledge at Google.
“The dream of flight, which was so difficult and expensive to obtain, will soon be within the reach of millions. Opener is putting the fun back into flying and opening up a new world of possibilities.”
MAKING HISTORY
“I just saw the future. Watching BlackFly take flight just blew me away. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Darren Pleasance, director, EAA.
“The magnitude of innovation that Opener has been driving in electric motors, aerodynamics, and VTOL operations is stunning and inspiring. Opener has made a huge step forward in bringing the Jetsons’ world to life.”
Opener vehicles will be on display at the 2018 EAA AirVenture Convention in Oshkosh, Wis., from July 23 to July 29, 2018.
l want to be on a email list with this companie.
Love to have one; perhaps to be a dealer for the company.
As a USAF veteran I am intrigued by the concept of the Black Fly. I am a resident of Uruguay and plan to take my annual pilgrimage to the United States and, additionally, this year to Canada. I graduated from High School at 14 years of age during WW II and had an opportunity to work in de Beauce County, Quebec in the maple industry. Found, when there, that there was more money working the lumber camp in Megantic. Senator Edouard Lacroix gave me that opportunity. Had other work before returning to the USA to attend college.
I give this CV as my credentials for what I am about to suggest.
As a retired Chem. Engr. living in the tiny country of Uruguay of 3+million population and, more or less 800km from end to end a great deal of ranches are accessible at ½ that distance. If the range of the Black Fly is +/- 60km There are abundant areas where a Black Fly could change batteries or recharge,
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It results in a test for the ussfullness of the Black Fly in its infancy.
When, where and how much, I’m anxiously waiting to buy and fly this amazing aircraft?
Please let me know as soon as it is available I’m really interested. Thank you.
keep me posted as things progress for the Black Fly
I would like to be put on the email list.
Interested to purchase one when available.
I live in Edmonton Alberta. Where is the company located in Canada, and is it possible to go see one?
Thank you
Shut up and take my money I love it I want one so bad thank it would be awesome but I was looking at forced induction that looks like Pretty good too. So how much
Let me know when and where it be made available for sale? What is the price? Where is the company located?