In 2019, Pyka came out of nowhere with an unusual electric aircraft design: a pilotless crop-duster. After the success of the first plane, Pyka began developing the next one, the P3. This 9-passenger craft has a unique propeller arrangement that aims to make regional flights more affordable and easier. It could fly as early as next year.Dan Grossman, who was previously with Zipcar, Ford and Maven, is the new president of the company. His transportation sector expertise could be a key asset to Pyka in helping it build the partnerships and networks that are necessary for local air travel.The P3 can fly 200 nautical miles (about 23 miles for lubber) at 155 knots. This is the type of hops that people prefer to do instead of long drives. These routes are currently served by larger, more costly aircraft that fly only half of their capacity, which makes the economics quite tangled. Pykas estimates that smaller and more affordable aircraft will enable for more flights per day between regional hubs.According to Michael Norcia, founder and CEO of the company, it is mostly in areas where driving 150 miles would be impossible. These regional routes are expensive and people don't like it.The cost of small craft flights is prohibitive. However, Norcia believes that the P3 will be able match bulk airfare rates and offer more flights per day to more destinations.Although the aircraft looks very conventional, the propellers at the front and back of the wings are what make it unique.Norcia said that it has never been done before. It is also accompanied by a short explanation.These small planes need to adjust the pitch of their propellers during takeoff and climb to one another during cruising. Each task requires a different angle. This means that the entire engine must be tilted, which can be difficult.Norcia stated that it is logical to have a complex propeller mechanism in a normal aircraft. This allows the aircraft to perform optimally across its entire range. There are some ways to simplify an aircraft using electric propulsion. All four propellers have a fixed pitch: the front ones are designed for takeoff and climb out and the rear ones for cruising.It would be foolish to increase the number of traditional engines that are heavy and expensive, just to avoid having to turn them during takeoff. It makes perfect sense with simple, affordable electric engines.The propellers at the front are inactive during climb and take-off, while the rear propellers take over for cruise. Each prop can be folded away when it is not being used. Norcia stated that the prop's mechanical design simplifies everything and does not require hydraulics or heavy duty hinges. In fact, putting it back seems to increase efficiency by around 10 percent. He said that it was quite cool. (They have also applied for a patent.However, the P3's general shape and size are well-known.Norcia stated that we were starting from scratch, as the unusual prop setup attests. However, the approach to this aircraft was to talk to customers and regulators to find out their needs. It was a nine-passenger plane.This is partly due to regulatory requirements. Airplanes that carry certain passenger numbers and have specific burdens fall under a simpler, less permissive regulatory regime. Airlines with fewer than 19 seats also fall under this simplified, more permissive regime. A 9-passenger plane is the best option, as it makes great progress in efficiency and affordability without reinventing the wheel.The P3's transition from twinkle in its eye to a flying machine can be further accelerated by being launched as an unmanned cargo vehicle. This is essentially a drone that can carry medium-sized payloads. This is a niche market as small unmanned aircraft cannot fly overland cargo routes. However, it allows the P3 to be legally in the air and start the process with regulators before moving on to the more important certification of a passenger plane.The goal is to have the P3 in flight by 2022. This is a very aggressive timeline for a new aircraft. Pyka has shipped two prototype Egret crop dusters craft and the production Pelican aircraft.Norcia said that the company was founded because electric aviation will fundamentally transform the way we move. Although it is a momentous time for electric aircraft, many are still taking pre-orders for the aircraft that might be certified in the next ten years. In the last three months, we shipped two Pelicans.Grossman stated that this was a key factor in his decision to join the company and help scale it: They are shipping right now and plan on shipping one plane per month next year. They've been extremely efficient with the money that they have made.Launching a new aircraft can be expensive. Norcia stated that they are currently raising capital to scale production and fly the full-sized P3. The passenger version of the aircraft could fly in 2025 if all goes according to plan.
