Getting to eVTOL Via Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL)

The article discusses the rationale behind the use of conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) configurations by numerous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developers during their flight testing phases. The author highlights several reasons for this practice, including:

• De-risking and accelerating crewed flight test programs
• Conserving energy during normal operations when vertical take-off and/or landing is not required
• Supporting overall eVTOL program development

Companies such as BETA Technologies, Vertical Aerospace, and Archer Aviation have employed CTOL flight during their eVTOL aircraft testing, demonstrating its usefulness in the development process. The article emphasizes that the choice to use CTOL depends on an eVTOL program's design, flight test philosophy, and target market.

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