Pegasus Universal Aerospace Partners With Callen-Lenz Group On Flight Control Systems Development.

South Africa’s Pegasus Universal Aerospace, pioneer of the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) Pegasus One, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UK-based, technical aviation consultancy, Callen-Lenz Group. The agreement brings the two companies together to exclusively collaborate on the design and development of flight control systems for the Pegasus One aircraft. Pegasus selected Callen-Lenz as its development partner owing to the team’s reputation for innovative solutions, core competencies and experience in developing complex technologies in the aerospace sector.

Over the past year, Pegasus has developed multiple scale models, and completed comprehensive studies on drivetrain and thrust fan systems to support a true hybrid-electric propulsion power source. Pegasus is in ongoing discussions with two leading powerplant OEM’s to ensure the best performance capability is achieved.

Under the terms of the MOU, the Callen-Lenz team will work closely with the Pegasus executive team, engineers and newly appointed chief pilot Captain Andrew Dietrich. Captain Dietrich joins the expanding Pegasus team with 16,000 hours flying time spanning a 26-year career operating ultra-long-range commercial airliners and corporate jets. Familiar with numerous flight-decks, working with a variety of avionics systems and aircraft simulators, Captain Dietrich brings valuable knowledge to Pegasus.

As an integral part of the Pegasus technical team Captain Dietrich will work alongside Callen-Lenz and Pegasus Chief Engineer Matthew Buttle and be responsible for overseeing compliance, safety procedures and the co-ordination of test pilots during the official test flight phase.

Construction of a full-scale VTOL demonstrator to show in Europe in 2020 has already begun and a series of investor evenings in South Africa starts this month.