HYDROGEN

Honeywell Aerospace has partnered with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, to develop hydrogen storage and fuel cell technologies for drones, uncrewed cargo aircraft, air taxis and larger aircraft. Some 25 Honeywell employees will work with WPI experts and students providing hydrogen technology and expertise under the multi-year contract.

SUPPLIER

The UK’s Stirling Dynamics has received a multi-million dollar, 30-month contract from South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace to lead design of the electromagnetic actuator for the Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL air taxi. Hanwha will provide manufacturing expertise and capability.

CUSTOMER

Swiss Helicopter has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with startup Dufour Aerospace for two Aero3 and one Aero3 tiltwing eVTOL aircraft. The Aero2 is an uncrewed cargo aircraft now in flight test and the Aero3 is a planned follow-on eight-passenger aircraft. All of the major Swiss helicopter operators have now signed LoIs with Dufour.

TESTING

Belfort, France-based startup Avions Mauboussin has flown a subscale model of its planned Alerion M1h, a tandem two-seater with hybrid-electric propulsion based on a turbine engine. Entry into service is planned for 2024. A hydrogen-fueled version is to follow to eliminate emissions.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Ferrovial Vertiports has signed an LoI to explore the use of Eve Air Mobility’s urban air traffic management software to support the operation of vertiports and eVTOL aircraft. Ferrovial plans to develop a network of more than 10 vertiports in Florida, 25 across the UK, and is studying other markets in the U.S. and other countries.

FUNDING

Verity, a Swiss manufacturer autonomous indoor drones for inventory tracking in warehouses, has completed a $32 million Series B funding round. Wingtra, a Swiss producer and operator of vertical-takeoff-and-landing drones for mapping and surveying, has closed a $22 million Series B round. Both will use the funds to expand operations.

STARTUP

UK startup Lyte Aviation has unveiled the LA-44 SkyBus 40-seat hybrid-electric tiltwing and SkyTruck cargo variant, with plans to fly a full-scale prototype within 24 months. The 17,000 kg (37,500 lb.) gross-weight LA-44 has a design range of 1,000 km (540 nm), speed of 300 kph (160 kt) and payload of 4,500 kg. The LA-44 has four turbine-powered and four hydrogen-electric rotors on tandem tilting wings.

STRATEGY

Tacoma, Washington-based eVTOL startup Zeva Aero has switched plans from developing a saucer-shaped tailsitting single-seater, the Zero, to modifying an existing two-seat light aircraft by adding four battery-powered lift rotors on wing-mounted booms. Called the Argon, the eVTOL is planned to be available in 2024 initially as an experimental-category kitplane.