Supernal Electrifies Future Travel with Appointment of NASA Veteran David McBride as Chief Technology Officer
In a bold move toward revolutionizing urban air mobility, Hyundai Motor Group’s subsidiary, Supernal, has announced the appointment of seasoned NASA veteran, David McBride, as its Chief Technology Officer. Tasked with spearheading the development and certification of Supernal’s visionary electric air taxi, McBride brings a wealth of aerospace expertise to the table.
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Based in Washington, DC, Supernal unveiled its ambitious SA-2 air taxi concept at the renowned Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this year, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. With McBride at the helm of technology strategy and aircraft development, Supernal is poised to propel its vision into reality, with a targeted market entry in 2028.
Drawing from his illustrious career at NASA, where he notably led missions and achieved operational milestones, including the Boeing 747SP aircraft’s full operational capability, McBride’s leadership promises to steer Supernal toward unprecedented heights. His contributions to expanding aerospace knowledge are exemplified by his involvement in groundbreaking projects such as the record-setting flight of the solar-powered Helios aircraft and the development of NASA’s all-electric X-57 Maxwell aircraft.
McBride expressed his excitement at joining Supernal, emphasizing the pivotal role he will play in certifying and commercializing the culmination of years of dedicated team effort. As Supernal transitions from engineering design to execution phases, McBride’s appointment signals a new era of progress and innovation for the company.
The SA-2 air taxi, a piloted, four-passenger marvel, boasts a sleek V-tail design and a distributed electric propulsion system powering eight tiltrotors. With a cruising speed of 104 knots (193 km/h), it is optimized for short to medium-range flights, offering unparalleled convenience and efficiency for urban commuters. Leveraging Hyundai’s manufacturing prowess and drawing on its experience in smart vehicle design, Supernal is poised to scale production seamlessly, ushering in a new era of sustainable urban mobility.
With ambitious milestones set, including a technology demonstrator’s first flight by the end of 2024 and a production prototype assembly by 2026, Supernal stands at the forefront of innovation, poised to redefine the future of air travel.
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