South Korea's MetroAir Unveils Multicruiser eVTOL with Patented Rimfoil Ducted Rotor Technology
South Korean aerospace startup MetroAir has announced the Multicruiser, a next-generation eVTOL aircraft featuring its proprietary Rimfoil ducted rotor system. The technology fully encases each rotor within an annular wing shroud, reducing aerodynamic drag by two-thirds while combining the low-speed maneuverability of a hexarotor with the cruising efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft. The Multicruiser is designed for high-density urban air mobility applications.
Highlights
- South Korean startup MetroAir announced the Multicruiser eVTOL, powered by its patented Rimfoil ducted rotor technology that fully encases each rotor in an annular wing shroud.
- The Rimfoil system reduces aerodynamic drag by two-thirds and completely suppresses tip vortices compared to conventional open-rotor configurations.
- The Multicruiser combines hexarotor low-speed maneuverability with fixed-wing cruising efficiency, targeting high-density urban air mobility scenarios.
- MetroAir plans a full UAM ecosystem including the Multicruiser aircraft, Hub vertiports, and AI-managed air corridors for urban airspace management.
- The enclosed rotor design minimizes safety risks to pedestrians and surrounding infrastructure, a key requirement for operating in dense urban environments.
South Korean aerospace startup MetroAir has announced it is developing the Multicruiser, a next-generation protected eVTOL aircraft powered by the company's proprietary Rimfoil ducted rotor technology.
Rimfoil Ducted Rotor: A Dual Breakthrough in Safety and Efficiency
The Rimfoil system fully encases each rotor within an annular wing shroud, delivering two core advantages:
- Eliminating visual hazards: Significantly reduces the safety risks posed by exposed rotors in urban environments
- Generating wing-like lift: At cruising speed, the duct structure produces additional lift in the manner of a conventional wing, improving overall flight efficiency
MetroAir states that the Multicruiser combines the low-speed maneuverability of a hexarotor drone with the cruising efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft, addressing a performance gap present in existing electric aircraft.
Three Key Performance Metrics
MetroAir highlighted the Multicruiser's design philosophy in its announcement:
"Unlike conventional drones or electric aircraft, the Multicruiser is engineered so that neither hover nor cruise flight modes require compromise: two-thirds drag reduction, complete tip vortex suppression, and a safety-first design make it an ideal platform for high-density urban environments."
Specific performance highlights include:
- Two-thirds drag reduction: A substantial improvement in flight efficiency compared to conventional rotor configurations
- Tip vortex suppression: The ducted structure effectively contains airflow, reducing energy loss and noise
- Safety-first design: Fully enclosed rotors minimize potential risk to pedestrians and surrounding environments
Toward a Fully 3D Urban Mobility Platform
MetroAir's vision extends beyond a single aircraft to a complete urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem built around three core elements:
- Multicruiser aircraft: The aerial mobility vehicle
- Hub vertiports: Ground infrastructure nodes for vertical take-off and landing
- AI-managed air corridors: Artificial intelligence-driven airspace traffic management
The company states that this integrated system is designed to make aerial mobility not merely possible, but an inevitable part of everyday urban life.
Further Information
- MetroAir official website: https://metroair.kr
- Multicruiser product page: https://metroair.kr/#multicruiser
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