Aircraft & Propulsion

The ePlane Co. targets April 2027 flight testing of its e200X eVTOL, initially pursuing air ambulance operations.

Cirrus expands Grand Forks production, grows its workforce and develops new products and technology to broaden aviation access.

A German aviation logistics company is planning to adapt a pair of former C-160 Transall turboprop airlifters into aerial firefighting aircraft for deployment in Europe.

Swiss aerospace manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft has begun operations in its new advanced composite center, “Schwarzhorn,” in central Switzerland.

Beta Technologies clears FAA regulatory hurdles for H500A engine and CX300 aircraft certification, advancing its electric aviation and charging network goals.

Vertical Aerospace nears critical design freeze for its Valo eVTOL but faces funding challenges as it works toward certification and production.

Utilization by corporate, fractional, charter and private individuals rose from May to July 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, Aviation Week data show.

Utilization by NetJets and Flexjet rose during the period from May to July 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, according to Aviation Week data.

Heart Aerospace completes first flight of X1, a full-scale electric demonstrator, validating key technologies for its hybrid-electric ES-30.

Jet-A fuel prices rose $1.70 per gallon in August, compared to a year ago, according to a fuel survey by U.S. FBOs conducted by the Aviation Research Group.

Lockheed Martin and Verizon have demonstrated the ability to detect small drones using signals from existing cellular networks.

Israeli startup AIR selects Florida’s SunTrax as its U.S. manufacturing and flight test site for the personal eVTOL aircraft.

Canada’s Volatus Aerospace is exploring the potential of autonomous firefighting with the developer of a Spanish uncrewed amphibious aircraft.

As Robinson Helicopters steps up development of autonomous and hybrid-powered versions of its light piston single R44, the California-based company has marked the delivery of the 5,000th R44 Raven II.

Chinese eVTOL developer AutoFlight conducted an uncrewed flight of its Prosperity air taxi on July 24.

Business transition delivers key milestones in second quarter.

Pivotal completes first live 911 missions with eVTOL aircraft, reaching patients faster and proving the potential of advanced air mobility for EMS.

Electric aircraft startup Joby Aviation is to acquire U.S. defense contractor Resonant Sciences, a developer of radomes and antennas for radar, electronic warfare, communications and navigation, for $450 million in cash and $50 million in equity.

Archer Aviation plans to acquire Boeing subsidiaries Wisk Aero, Insitu and SkyGrid in a deal that gives the eVTOL developer a major position in autonomous flight, uncrewed aircraft and airspace management technology.

Danny Deep has been appointed to the board of directors of General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace.

Divisions between the U.S. and Europe on certifying commercial eVTOL air taxis, and the safety levels demanded have been codified in new guidance issued by the FAA.

Embraer Executive Jets posts $725 million in Q2 revenue, up 32%, with backlog growth and plans for 200 jets annually by 2030 as Eve advances eVTOL milestones.

Starlink plans to expand beyond 100,000 satellites with V3 designs, boosting bandwidth 100 times to meet AI and robotics data demands.

DARPA’s Lift Challenge pushes drone payload-to-weight limits, with Avidrone winning by carrying 3.84 times its weight over a 5-mi. course.

Solairus Aviation acquires Clay Lacy’s aircraft management and charter divisions, creating the world’s largest managed private aircraft fleet.