Fledermauser®
A Family of Multirole
Turbine + Battery
VTOL Aircraft
Available For License
Fledermauser® is Registered U.S. Trademark. All Fledermauser versions remain the exclusive intellectual property of patent holder, Tom Alfaro.
Rhombat RMK, a derivative design based on Fledermauser, is available to play in Modern Warships, the mobile and PC game from Artstorm and Gaijin Entertainment.
Exclusive licenses are available for each Fledermauser® variant, for visual use only in a specific game or interactive media. For example, Herr Reality has licensed the FM6 variant (see below).
Contact Pan Spatial for licensing details.
Size comparison of Fledermauser® FM1 and FM2 alongside MQ-8B and MQ-8C UASs.
Fledermauser® Features
Family of multirole aircraft based on a patented VTOL propulsor, flaperon, and wing configuration.
- Turbine + Battery electric distributed propulsion for power, range, and sustainability
- Fixed ducted wings with enclosed rotors and trailing edge flaperons for CTOL, STOL and VTOL
- Rigid open structure enables modular internal payloads and sustained rugged operations
- Wings stow for transport via C-130 or other cargo aircraft
Designer’s Notes
Pan Spatial Designer
Tom Alfaro
All new technology exists on a spectrum of science and fiction. The Fledermauser® concept uses both science and fiction to continually improve and mature.
In 2019 and 2020, I developed and successfully filed a patent for unique aircraft configuration that integrates several emerging enabling technologies into an effective multirole aircraft.
Beyond the patent, I developed several complete concept aircraft, designed around realistic operational missions and constraints, to elicit specific feedback from potential end-users and potential technical partners.
Direct briefings with U.S. military services, public engagement at technology symposiums, and small developmental contracts with airframe, systems, and propulsion companies have continually improved the basic design.
Although several Fledermauser versions were developed in cooperation with other organizations, all Fledermauser versions remain the exclusive intellectual property of patent holder, Tom Alfaro.
Fledermauser® FM6
The FM6 is comprised of twelve 19-inch Electric Ducted Fans, distributed within the inner segments of the wingspan.
FM6 integrates a hybrid wingspan of traditional airfoil segments, to facilitate better glide ratio and compact foldability for transportation in larger vehicles. Larger Turbo Alternator and EDF’s expand the performance envelope considerably above previous versions.
FM6 is utilized by exclusive license agreement with Herr Reality, a company dedicated to expanding the utility of augmented reality in commerce and interactive experiences. Animated FM6 augmented reality (AR) experiences are available through the Herr Reality Youtube channel.
Gerhard Schröder, aka Herr Reality, demonstrates the functional EDFs and thurst-vectoring flaperons on the Pan Spatial Fledermauser® FM6 AR model
Fledermauser® FM3
The FM3 was comprised of 32 12-inch Electric Ducted Fans (EDF), distributed across the full span of each wing.
FM3 was a Group 4 UAS, designed to be piloted onboard to accommodate a broader range of missions. Payload bay and weight allowance would facilitate MEDEVAC missions.
FM3 is identified in the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) Electric VTOL Directory.
Fledermauser® FM2
The FM2 was comprised pf 32 9-inch Electric Ducted Fans (EDF), distributed across the full span of each wing.
FM2 was not piloted onboard, however it was large enough to transport a prone CASEVAC patient or partially prone human passenger.
FM2 is identified in the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) Electric VTOL Directory.
Fledermauser® FM1
The FM1 was comprised of 32 6-inch diameter Electric Ducted Fans (EDF), distributed across the full span of each wing.
FM1 was unmanned, but as a Group 3 UAS it is large enough to deploy multiple standard, compact payloads currently in use on larger conventional military platforms.
FM1 is identified in the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) Electric VTOL Directory.