Lift+cruise

An electric aircraft layout with dedicated upward-facing rotors for takeoff and landing and separate propellers for forward flight.

• Fixed lift rotors handle takeoff, hover and landing, then stop and lock aligned with the airflow once the wings take over.
• A separate pusher or puller propeller provides forward thrust in cruise.
• With no tilting parts it is mechanically simpler and arguably easier to certify; Beta Technologies and Eve use this layout.
• The idle lift rotors are dead weight and drag in cruise, cutting range and payload compared with tilting designs.