by Brian Morgan
CEO & Co-Founder, Morgan Aircraft

While it’s true that drones can do nearly everything autonomously these days, there are still some giant shortfalls to overcome and major improvements to be made. There are indeed VTOL drones out there. These simply scaled down helicopters have the same dangers, speed limitations, and challenges as their full-size equivalents:  Larger-than-airframe dimension, exposed rotors are a hazard to personnel and surroundings, and are also a single point failure threat to the aircraft.  If tail rotor equipped, the same holds true in exposed rotor danger, but more so in noise and again, single point failure resulting in loss of aircraft control for VTOL/Hover operations.  Top speed is a huge limitation as with any rotorcraft.  And subsequently, ultimate range, approach and loiter options are extremely limited.

In the past few years many new drones and concepts for UAV’s that have VTOL capabilities have been tested and new ideas to this age-old problem continue to be developed.  At Morgan Aircraft, we believe we have the solution in our patented airframe and systems technology we call the “EM-J” short for “Extremely Maneuverable Jet-Prop”.  The EM-J is a fixed wing VTOL aircraft configuration utilizing the best of both worlds with two separate systems onboard.  Unlike most of any would-be competitors who focus on one thrust system to handle all phases of flight, the Morgan employs two separate systems to accomplish best efficiency in each mode of flight.  The penalty for carrying around the small “excess baggage” has minimal impact on the design missions for the aircraft.  In turn, this provides superior control and safety during each mode of flight from Hover/VTOL operations to cruise flight.

Our technology is very scalable and has many advantages over a wide range of exiting drones being used today.  The EM-J will never directly compete against or replace the likes of Global Hawk or Predator drones. But rather it will provide unique mission capability profiles that are not yet considered in current military planning. Today’s UAV missions roadmap does not take into account the potential options that an EM-J will offer.  Simply because there was no high speed, fixed wing UAV available… until now.  One that offers the functionality of highly stable VTOL performance combined with the high-speed forward flight of a fixed wing aircraft.  The EM-J gives us this tool.

With current mission parameters being designed around a larger scale UAV that can carry over 1000lbs, cruise at 35,000ft at 300kts and fly-loiter at 20,000ft and 200kts… or stop and hover… or drop down, land, deliver, pickup and go again… carry arms, cameras, even pickup wounded… the EM-J’s potential mission profile set could be vast in comparison to any other UAV available today.  Although it will never circumnavigate the globe on a single tank of gas… It can be safely refueled, in-air, as easily as any other fixed wing plane.  No, it cannot fly at 60,000ft or be as invisible there, but it can still glide in nearly silently from a closer-by command post or ship base.  The Predator is perhaps the most famous drone in today’s military UAV arenas.  It has obviously recorded many accomplishments in a wide array of missions including aerial reconnaissance, air-to-air combat/invocation, and weapons delivery.  While the EM-J could perform many of the same feats, it can do so from closer-by and perhaps more strategic locations.  Not having the limitation of having to land on a prepared airstrip, the EM-J could take off (vertically) from a field or a flatbed truck, cruise in at +250kts, and nearly silently glide in to spy-on or deliver whatever is necessary onsite. If weapons delivery is the mission: It can drop in, deliver, return to a closer-by base, be reloaded, and return again with the same, in minutes… not hours.  It could be launched and/or serviced from an offshore carrier or autonomous platform that might simply refuel or maybe even re-arm an EM-J autonomously as well.

There’s a plethora of opportunity for a UAV with the EM-J’s capabilities and the need is indeed great for a drone such as this. In fact, there are current missions written for this type of UAV now. The Medium Range Maritime Unmanned Aerial System (MRMUAS) specifications put out by the military are perfect for the EM-J. It can do these missions and many others with a more flexible and more frequent return of attacks/missions than was previously possible. And against other VTOL capable UAV’s that are being used (mostly scale helicopters), there is no real comparison.  The EM-J drone performs at higher speeds and greater safety levels than can be achieved by any traditional rotorcraft or tilt-rotor design. EM-J’s tactical advantages are numerous and its unique blend of capabilities provides unsurpassed flexibility and freedom to engage in ways other UAV’s simply cannot.

copyright Morgan Aircraft 2011