electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL)

U.S. startup Electra.aero has received a $1.9 million U.S. Army contract that funds powered wind tunnel testing of its planned hybrid-electric STOL aircraft.

Beta Technologies has received certification of its Charge Cube from UL, signifying the design complies with existing safety standards and regulations.

Lilium has begun producing battery packs for the first prototype Lilium Jet.

Czech startup Zuri has completed a large-scale ground testbed for its planned five-seat hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing air taxi.

Supported by Itochu, Germany’s Wingcopter has applied for Japanese certification of its Wingcopter 198 delivery drone.

Moya Aero is preparing to test automated takeoff, flight to predefined points, return to home and landing on its demonstrator eVTOL.

Startup VerdeGo Aero has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to advance development of a turbine-based hybrid-electric powerplant.

Eve Air Mobility has chosen Korea Aerospace Industries to supply the pylons for its electric air taxi, the first supply deal for the OEM in the AAM market.

Japan backs aircraft electrification; flying warehouse for delivery drones; certifying autonomous flight; silicon batteries for eVTOL.

Under the Wilbur Air brand, the company plans to operate a range of aircraft from heavy-lift cargo drones to regional passenger airliners.

The company is currently assembling its first fourth-generation Aero2 X2.3 pre-series aircraft, with plans to build two more this year and several more in 2025.

Amprius introduced the SiCore battery in January as a companion to its SiMaxx silicon-nanowire technology.

Novel hydrogen storage; Solar Skydweller flies uncrewed; Avic’s large cargo UAV; and UK integrated electric ducted fan.

The Prosperity air taxi will be used for urban air traffic demonstration flights conducted in preparation for the Osaka World Expo in 2025.

The project involves Thales, TXT and the Universite Laval.

As of the end of 2023, 690 registered GA companies operated 2,900 aircraft and averaged 114,000 flight hours per month, China reported on March 29.

Lilium has received the first set of standby flight instruments from Garmin for integration into its Lilium Jet prototypes and flight simulator.

H55 is developing battery packs for Pratt & Whitney Canada’s hybrid-electric flight demonstrator.

The two front-runners in the nascent U.S. air taxi market have staked out sharply different paths in their manufacturing strategies.

The AAM Stock Composite rose 1.5% during the week ending March 29, compared to an 0.25% increase in the S&P 500.

A key element of a novel electric propulsion demonstrator has been completed and is set to begin bench testing under a UK government-supported research program.

The Mitre Corp. has developed a tool that can estimate the level of risk to AAM vehicles posed by hazardous operating conditions created by microscale weather.

The project is developing a digital twin of Aurora’s Skiron-X expeditionary uncrewed aircraft.

Drone delivery provider DroneUp has unveiled its Ecosystem, an integrated ground, air and software infrastructure.

High-speed testbeds make progress; validating a digital twin; non-CO2 emissions road map; power-beamed UAV; SAF via bacteria.