Climate impact from aviation becomes increasingly important. The Flying-V is a promising concept with superior aerodynamic efficiency and lower weight, leading to lower fuel consumption and lower CO2-emission compared to a tube-and-wing aircraft like the A350. Climate impact from non-CO2 effects (NOx-emission, H2O-emission and contrails) depends on location and time of emission. Due to different design altitudes of the Flying-V and the A350, the impact from all effects have been assessed. At design conditions, the difference in climate impact is 1% in favor of the A350. The benefits of lower CO2- and NOx-emissions are trumped by increased impact from contrails. At identical conditions however, the Flying-V outperforms the A350 in both climate impact and fuel consumption. Also, lower altitudes showed substantially lower climate impact for both aircraft. It is recommended to redesign the Flying-V for lower altitudes and to operate existing civil aircraft at lower altitudes to reduce climate impact.

The AerGo is a recreational ultralight water-aircraft, designed to be transportable by bike and operated without a license. This report outlines its concept, characteristics, and feasibility.

The AerGo features a biwing design with swept wings, closed by vertical plates at the tips. It has a constant wing chord of 0.79 m and a wingspan of 12 m. The aircraft is powered by two six-bladed propellers mounted on the top wing and driven by electric engines. The lower wing is attached to a buoyant hull, stabilized by side floats. A paddle is used for taxiing and docking on water, as the aircraft is designed exclusively for water take-off and landing. The pilot sits inside the hull and controls pitch by shifting weight on a swing. Roll control is achieved through wing warping, and yaw by rudders. The total empty mass is 44.7 kg. A multipurpose trailer system facilitates storage, transport, and deployment. The AerGo is designed for single-person assembly and operation and is safe to fly for over 270 days per year.

A market analysis of ultralight aircraft reveals a European fleet of over 25,000, with 500 in the Netherlands. While most ultralights are custom-built, successful models like the Woopyfly and Lazair have seen large-scale production. The AerGo’s mobility, ease of use, and hydrodynamic capabilities position it competitively. A conservative estimate projects annual sales of 20 units, with 25% for the Dutch market and 75% for Europe. Expansion to North America is a future opportunity.

The design is driven by weight and energy efficiency, with batteries forming a significant part of the empty weight. The primary energy requirement comes from cruise flight, optimized through airfoil selection. The NACA 6415 airfoil, chosen for its high lift coefficient at zero angle of attack, minimizes drag and maximizes cruise efficiency. The hydrodynamic model, based on DSDS data, estimates a take-off speed of 9.9 kg and a 170 m take-off distance. The computed climb rate is 1.43 m/s, reaching a cruise altitude of 150 m in 105 seconds.

The engine and battery design prioritize take-off power while ensuring a minimum flight time of 60 minutes. With a cruise speed of 15 m/s, the AerGo has a range of 40 km. The pilot’s longitudinal position, optimized at 1.6 m, ensures stability. The upper wing has a positive stagger of 0.45 m forward, creating a seesaw effect that smooths weight-shift control. Roll is controlled by wing warping, and yaw by rudders placed at the wing tips. A 15° wing sweep enhances rudder effectiveness, allowing safe operation on a single engine.

The aircraft’s lightweight structure consists of a skin-on-frame design, with a nylon-covered carbon fiber wing weighing 11.3 kg and a dacron-covered carbon fiber hull at 4 kg. Noise reduction is achieved with six-blade propellers, keeping levels below 40 dB at 100 m distance. Approximately 74% of the aircraft is recyclable, with a carbon footprint of 800 kg CO2 per unit.

At an estimated price of €20,000 per unit and annual sales of 20, the break-even point is 9.5 years, with a projected return on investment of €700,000 after 12 years. Further analysis is required on cost budgeting, structural impact resistance, and user assembly instructions to ensure feasibility.