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Prof. Satya Chakravarthy| "Takes off like a drone, flies like a plane"| Ep. 7 | IIT Madras

Remember watching The Jetsons and dreaming of flying cars? While George Jetson zipped through Orbit City, Prof. Satya Chakravarthy rolled up his sleeves and said 'Challenge accepted.' Now, this IIT Madras professor isn't just dreaming—he's building India's first flying taxi. But unlike the Jetsons' personal flying cars that required piloting skills, his vision through The ePlane Company is different: electric aircraft that do all the work while you sit back and enjoy the view. As Founder and CEO-CTO, he's developing India's first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft— imagine an electric SUV that flies up to 200 km/h just 300-500m above ground. In this episode, Prof. Satya takes us through his incredible career spanning academia and entrepreneurship. He shares candid insights about: - How The ePlane Company is making flying taxis a reality in India - The technological challenges of electric aviation and battery technology - The evolution of India's aerospace ecosystem - from government organizations to startups - His involvement with groundbreaking companies like Agnikul Cosmos, GalaxEye, and TuTr Hyperloop - Why he believes India is now ready to build world-class aerospace technology Whether you're an aerospace enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of transportation, this episode offers a unique glimpse into how Indian innovators are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in aerospace. Prof. Satya Chakravarthy is also the Head of National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) and Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Madras. 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:25 Student at IIT Madras and PhD at Georgia Tech University 00:06:20 Aerospace or CS? Passion vs Paycheck? Your Ultimate Career Dilemma! 00:08:48 The ePlane Company: What are eVTOLs or flying taxis 00:22:35 Convincing investors and others of this crazy idea 00:25:53 Evolution of Aerospace Industry in India 00:29:40 IIT Madras: Fostering a Culture of Building 00:35:31 India's Growing Startup & VC Ecosystem 00:37:04 The ePlane Company: Fundraising Success & Future Vision 00:38:50 Navigating Aviation Regulations & Compliance 00:41:09 Agnikul Cosmos: 3D Printed Rocket Engines 00:43:00 The Patience Paradox 00:44:08 GalaxEye Space: World's First Satellite with SAR-EO Fusion 00:47:40 Elon Musk, TuTr Hyperloop and its feasibility 00:53:12 Chennai to Bangalore in 15 Minutes? 00:58:56 Setting up the NCCRD at IIT Madras 01:05:10 Drop Tower at IIT Madras 01:12:10 IIT Madras Thaiyur Campus: A "Build" Wonderland 01:15:28 The Joy of Engineering 01:18:21 Wrap References- 1. The ePlane Company- https://www.eplane.ai/ 2. National Centre for Combustion Research and Development- https://www.iitm.ac.in/research/national-research-centres/national-centre-for-combustion-research-and-development 3. Agnikul Cosmos- https://agnikul.in/#/ 4. GalaxEye- https://www.galaxeye.space/ 5. Avishkar Hyperloop- https://avishkarhyperloop.com/ 6. IIT Madras Research Park- https://respark.iitm.ac.in/ 7. Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras- http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/ 8. Centre For Innovation- https://cfi.iitm.ac.in/ To know more about what makes IIT Madras- the Best Place to Build- hit https://www.bestplacetobuild.com/

Satya Chakravarthyguest
Dec 19, 20241h 20mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

IIT Madras professor on deep tech startups in aerospace, mobility

  1. Chakravarthy argues students should “follow your heart” because today’s opportunities exist across fields, not just computer science, and the internet has leveled global awareness and ambition.
  2. The ePlane Company is developing an electric VTOL that takes off like a drone and flies like a plane, optimized for short intra-/peri-city routes, targeting early commercial operations around late 2026.
  3. He explains core eVTOL constraints—battery energy density and power delivery during vertical takeoff/landing—and the engineering levers that still meaningfully improve range and economics.
  4. He frames India’s aerospace evolution as four waves—government R&D, MNC R&D, manufacturing, and now startups—enabled by talent depth, affordability-driven innovation, and a maturing VC ecosystem.
  5. He highlights IIT Madras’ “culture of building” and large test infrastructure at the Thaiyur (Discovery) campus, including rocket test facilities and a 400m+ Hyperloop vacuum tube that can attract global teams.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Pick the field you care about; the market is broader than you think.

Chakravarthy’s core heuristic is “follow your heart,” arguing that unlike earlier decades, viable high-impact opportunities now exist in many domains (including aerospace) due to globalized knowledge and growing Indian ecosystems.

eVTOLs win first on short-range, high-friction commutes—not intercity routes.

He positions eVTOLs as best for ~30–60 km trips (e.g., city-to-airport, intra-city hops) because today’s battery-electric aircraft typically top out around ~200–250 km practical range.

Battery limits are real, but aerodynamic/structural engineering still buys range.

Instead of waiting for a battery breakthrough, ePlane focuses on aerodynamics, lightweighting, and motor improvements; he cites current ~250 Wh/kg packs and notes fuel is ~15,000 Wh/kg equivalent, underscoring why optimization matters.

Vertical takeoff is a power problem as much as an energy problem.

He distinguishes power (rate of energy use) from energy (total), explaining VTOL phases demand high instantaneous power and add aerodynamic “draggy contraptions,” raising the engineering bar versus conventional takeoff aircraft.

In aviation, certification is a core product feature, not a paperwork afterthought.

He emphasizes that civilian aviation is regulated down to minor components for safety reasons, and that a meaningful share of effort is navigating compliance to achieve airline-grade reliability.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

In my view, the universal principle is follow your heart.

— Satya Chakravarthy

It takes off and lands like a drone… but flies forward like a plane.

— Satya Chakravarthy

There are hundreds of eVTOL companies at the PowerPoint level.

— Satya Chakravarthy

With GalaxEye, we have run out of excuses for not imaging the world 24 by 7.

— Satya Chakravarthy

You need to be impatient to break the barrier… but once you set yourself up… you’ve got to be patient to do it.

— Satya Chakravarthy

IIT Madras culture shift: building vs resume signalingCareer choice: passion vs paycheck in engineeringeVTOL design choices: short wings, slower cruise, tight landing spacesBattery energy density vs combustion; power vs energy constraintsFundraising realities for Indian deep tech; global validationAgnikul’s 3D-printed rocket engines and test infrastructureGalaxEye’s SAR + EO fusion for 24/7 Earth imagingHyperloop feasibility, costs, and Chennai–Bangalore travel timesAviation certification and safety regulationNCCRD combustion research, industry collaboration, drop tower microgravity

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