March 1, 2024 – In a bold leap forward for urban air mobility, Doroni Aerospace unveiled its latest innovation: the Doroni H1X, a sleek two-seater flying car that promises performance, safety, and futuristic design. The H1X builds on the company’s earlier prototypes but introduces a host of refinements aimed at delivering a more capable and commercially viable electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Performance Specs That Matter
The Doroni H1X boasts:
- Payload Capacity: 500 pounds (227 kg)
- Top Speed: 120 mph
- Flight Time: 40 minutes
- Recharge Time: Just 24 minutes
- Safety Feature: A ballistic parachute system
These specs place it squarely in competition with some of the most advanced eVTOLs in development today, but what truly sets the H1X apart is its unique propulsion system.
A New Approach: Ducted Propellers and Tandem Wings
Unlike many current eVTOLs—including the Pivotal Helix, Jetson ONE, Ehang 216-S, Xpeng X2, AIR ONE, and Skyfly Axe—the Doroni H1X employs coaxial ducted fans. Specifically, it uses four ducted vertical lift fans and two separate horizontal ducted propellers for thrust. This is a significant design divergence in a field crowded with open-propeller concepts.
Why Ducted Fans?
Ducted fans offer several advantages:
- Up to 90% higher thrust efficiency compared to open rotors
- Quieter operation, ideal for urban use
- Thrust vectoring capabilities
- Safety: Protects both bystanders and internal components from debris and blade strikes
However, the design choice is not without challenges.
The Catch: Aerodynamic Penalties in Forward Flight
Ducted fans struggle in forward motion due to increased drag and reduced lift. As airspeed increases, airflow has difficulty bending into the duct’s intake, reducing the propeller’s efficiency. This aerodynamic shortfall was also seen in legacy aircraft like the Bell X-22, which attempted to overcome it by tilting its ducted fans during forward flight.
Doroni’s solution? Instead of tilting the ducts, the H1X relies on:
- Dedicated horizontal pusher props for forward thrust
- Wings that generate more lift as speed increases
- Reducing fan RPM during cruise to minimize drag
Design Inspired by Jet Fighters
The H1X features a tandem X-wing configuration, a layout rarely seen in modern aircraft. At the front, ducted fans are embedded within the wing structure—a trait shared only with the Cavorite X5.
Additional aerodynamic features include:
- Wing fences to manage airflow between the main and ducted wing sections
- Downward-inclined rear wings with wheels at the tips—similar to the Airbus Vahana—to prevent Dutch roll and add stability during landing
- Upward-inclined rear wings with additional ducted fans for vertical lift
Doroni claims to have patented this tandem-wing + ducted-fan combination, inspired by the aerodynamic experimentation of 1950s and ’60s fighter jets.
Regulatory Path and Certification
Despite its futuristic edge, the H1X is heavier than many of its rivals, weighing in at 840 kg (1,850 lbs)—even with extensive use of carbon fiber. This places it outside traditional light sport aircraft (LSA) limits, but Doroni hopes to take advantage of the FAA’s MOSAIC proposal, which could raise the LSA weight cap to 1,360 kg (3,000 lbs). If approved, this would ease certification hurdles and open the H1X to a broader range of pilots.
Development Status: Playing Catch-Up
Doroni has conducted manned VTOL tests with a full-scale model (currently with open rotors), and the company is now accepting pre-orders for the H1X. However, they remain behind the curve compared to competitors like Ehang and Jetson, which already have hundreds of test hours with production-grade vehicles.
Conclusion: Ambitious, Innovative, and Still in the Works
The Doroni H1X is undoubtedly a bold concept in the world of personal aviation. Its novel blend of ducted propulsion, tandem wings, and fighter-jet-inspired aerodynamics makes it a standout in a rapidly growing field. But as with all futuristic tech, the real test lies in execution.
As pre-orders begin and flight tests continue, the world will be watching to see if the H1X can rise above the competition—not just in specs, but in the skies.