Australia’s Kite Magnetics has introduced its 120-kilowatt electric propulsion unit (EPU), which is intended for electric aviation applications that could include conventional fixed-wing aircraft, as well as eVTOL and eSTOL designs, high-altitude satellites, and wing-in-ground craft. The company plans to announce its first flight test partner in March as part of an effort to build operational data over the next 12 months.
Unveiling the KM-120 air-cooled motor at this week’s Avalon Air Show, near its headquarters in Melbourne, Kite said it is more powerful than a typical small car but weighs only around as much as a full suitcase. The basis for this performance is the company’s patented Aeroperm lightweight magnetic material, which was developed by the team at Monash University that formed the start-up five months ago. They began with a A$1.85 million ($1.2 million) seed funding round backed by venture capital groups including Investible and Breakthrough Victoria.
