PETALUMA, Calif., - Jump Aero in Petaluma, California recently unveiled the design of the company's all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) first response aircraft. The company also announced that the first full-scale prototype would be partially funded by the United States Air Force and confirmed the first commercial order from Falck Ambulance Services, which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The new eVTOL design, called the JA1 Pulse, is designed to help medical professionals arrive at the scene of a rural emergency as fast as possible. It is capable of dash speeds of 250 knots - about 290 MPH - making it a speedy first response option inside the critical eight-minute emergency response window. The aircraft can carry a 330 pound payload and can reach any location inside that window as far as 31 miles away. The aircraft is powered by independent - but linkable - 11 kWh batteries, and can land on surfaces that have 10-degree slopes or lower, which includes most roads and driveways.
"Falck is excited to partner with Jump Aero to help us revolutionize the future of emergency services. By enabling professional help to reach hard-to-access locations in a timely manner, Jump Aero will help Falck to deliver improved services to our customers," says Jakob Riis, CEO of Falck.
Jump Aero has won $3.6 million in contracts from the U.S. Air Force to accelerate the company's technology development. The latest $1.8 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) will be used to fund the first full-scale proof-of-concept prototype.
"Jump Aero's aircraft concept and development strategy focusing on rapid emergency response has potential for defense-related use-cases and is complementary to the other eVTOL programs that the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program has engaged with to date. We look forward to working with Jump Aero to help mature their dual-use technology," says Lt Col John Tekell, Agility Prime Program lead.
