Dornier Seawings acquires project for composites-intensive amphibious eVTOL
The current Flywhale FW650 is a two-seat amphibious composite aircraft. It will now be produced and sold under the name, DS-2C, with plans to present an eVTOL version.
The standard DS-2C aircraft. Photo Credit, all images: Dornier Seawings
As of Jan. 1, 2022, Dornier Seawings (Weßling, Germany) has acquired the Flywhale aircraft project from Uniplanes GmbH (now Flywhale Aircraft, Frankfurt, Germany). The acquisition includes the entire intellectual property and production assets— design data, drawings, manuals etc. as well as all toolings and molds required for serial production.
The Flywhale FW650 is a two-seat amphibious light sports aircraft fully made of composite materials. According to Dornier Seawings, it also features similar design principals to the company’s current main product, the Dornier Seastar CD2.
“The Flywhale fits very well into our product portfolio given its flying boat configuration and proven design features such as corrosion-free composites, high wings and engine as well as sponsons,” says Amy Pan, CEO of Dornier Seawings. “Our mission is to revive the Dornier flying boat tradition with advanced technology to provide our customers with the unique experience of superior mobility that combines water, land and air operation. We are convinced that the Flywhale, as the first scion of the Seastar family, will not only contribute to value creation, but also unleash its potential as an unlimited platform for smart technological innovation in the advanced air mobility [AAM] segment.”
In the years to come, the Flywhale will not just feature modern systems and optimized performance specs within its segment but be produced and sold worldwide with the name DS-2C by Dornier Seawings, according to the company.
An impression of the DS-2C-X electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL).
Besides this core project, Dornier Seawings will use this aircraft as a research platform to enter the AAM segment, as well as present the DS-2C-X electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) as the world’s first amphibious eVTOL jet.
Dornier Seawings is expected to announce a number of important details on the DS-2C and AAM research program in the upcoming months to further reinforce its visionary “unlimited runways” approach by offering economical and environmentally friendly products.
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