Month: July 2022

VerdeGo Aero, one of the world’s only companies specializing in hybrid-electric aerospace propulsion systems, has announced a $12M Series A round led by RTX Ventures (Raytheon Technologies). The funds raised will go towards the acceleration of new hybrid-propulsion technologies.

Above: VerdeGo Aero’s VH-3 Hybrid Power plant

Founded in 2017 by the grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, VerdeGo is on the forefront of electric propulsion with high-efficiency flexible power plants that enable electrification to be applied to a broad array of aircraft types and mission requirements.

VerdeGo Aero was originally founded as a potential eVTOL aircraft developer, but pivoted its strategy in 2018 in to focus on providing hybrid propulsion solutions for electrically-powered aircraft such as eVTOLs, eSTOLs and more. Since adjusting its strategy, VerdeGo has gained a solid reputation in this field by forming partnerships with Airflow (now acquired by Electra.aero), Continental Aerospace, XTI Aircraft, and even Jaunt Air Mobility, which was formerly part of the Uber Elevate project. It also recently announced the development of its VH-3-185 hybrid power plant, which is 40% more efficient than comparable internal combustion plants, and could power all kinds of commercial-grade electric aircraft.

Now, VerdeGo has announced a successful Series A fundraising round of $12M, prominently backed by RTX Ventures of Raytheon Technologies, a highly experienced multinational company with several decades of experience in developing new technology products. In particular, VerdeGo will work with Pratt & Whitney, a famed subsidiary of Raytheon that has been making aircraft engines since as early as 1925, and provided engines for the United State’s f-35 fighter jets. Together, Pratt & Whitney and VerdeGo will collaborate by leveraging P&W’s capabilities including engine development, certification experience and global powerplant support.

Above: XTI Aircraft’s TriFan 200, an unmanned cargo eVTOL that will be powered by VerdeGo’s Hybrid-Electric propulsion system

Said Pat CTO and co-founder of VerdeGo Aero Dr Pat Anderson, ““Electrification of aircraft enables new aircraft designs and new mission types that are only possible by leveraging the responsiveness, light weight, and adaptability of electric motors. However, most commercial and military missions require performance and endurance that go far beyond the capabilities of battery technologies. VerdeGo’s hybrid systems create an efficient
method for combining sustainable liquid fuels and electrification to get the best of both worlds.”

Daniel Ateya, managing director of RTX Ventures, commented, “Delivering sustainable aviation technologies to help our customers bend the emissions curve remains one of Raytheon Technologies’ most important priorities. Our investment represents one of the ways we’re working to deliver a more sustainable future.”

Why it’s important: VerdeGo Aero, having already made immense progress in creating its own hybrid-propulsion system business, will now have access to Pratt & Whitney’s immense sum of aircraft powerplant system knowledge and expertise. By partnering with VerdeGo, Raytheon Technologies has furthered its effort to bring net-zero carbon emissions to the civil aviation industry by 2050. Together with the resources now being offered by P&W and Raytheon, VerdeGo’s hybrid systems will now likely be utilized in a large number of the hybrid-electric aircraft soon arriving on the market.

Source // VerdeGo Aero, Raytheon Technologies

Related:

• VerdeGo Aero Releases Hybrid Electric VH-3-185 Powerplant
• Jaunt Air Mobility and VerdeGo Aero Collaborate on Hybrid Electric Aircraft
• XTI Partners with VerdeGo Aero for Its Hybrid-Electric Cargo VTOL
• VerdeGo Aero Optimizes Hybrid Propulsion System for Commercial Aviation

Vertical Aerospace has announced a partnership with Babcock International an aerospace, defense and security company to explore new applications of for its VX4 eVTOL aircraft.

The VX4 has proven demand in the passenger transportation markets from established airline customers
including Virgin Atlantic, aircraft lessors such as Avolon, and helicopter and tourism operators such as
Bristow and Iberojet. With today’s announcement, Vertical and Babcock will set up a Joint Working Group
(JWG) to explore how to use the VX4 in new applications such as aerial EMS and cargo transportation.
The VX4 has the potential to transform these types of operations and reduce their carbon impact at a lower
overall cost.

The piloted zero operating emissions four-passenger VX4, is projected to be capable of travelling distances
over 100 miles, achieving top speeds of over 200mph, while producing minimal noise and having a low cost
per passenger mile.

Babcock has over thirty-five years of experience in EMS, performing thousands of missions every year
globally, and is the largest single operator delivering helicopter emergency services (HEMS) in the UK.
By reducing the medical response time, Babcock not only saves lives, but also significantly minimizes the
long-term effects of injuries. This will include reviewing how to use the VX4 in vital services such as attending
accidents and providing emergency transport between hospitals.

The partnership will also see the two companies working on developing modular MRO capabilities to enable
cost effective maintenance of the aircraft in both remote and challenging environments. The partnership
will also see the two companies working on the development of modular MRO capabilities to maximize
availability and enable cost effective maintenance of the VX4 in service. Leveraging Babcock’s experience
in the defense industry, the partnership will also explore how the eVTOL concept may be expanded in the
future to support the armed forces with medium range logistics delivery and casualty evacuation services.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder & CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said “Climate change is the greatest challenge of
our time. As with all other areas, the emergency services and logistics sectors must respond and adapt. I am
delighted that Vertical Aerospace will be able support Babcock, a trusted provider of emergency response
services, in their efforts to decarbonize their operations.”

Phil Craig, Managing Director of UK Aviation at Babcock, added: “Partnering with Vertical Aerospace not
only enables us to harness our extensive digital and data expertise across Babcock, but also our reputation
as a trusted MRO provider with a highly skilled workforce. As a business, we’re committed to reducing our
carbon footprint and this partnership is an exciting step into the world of electric aircrafts. Exploring VX4’s
technological capabilities allows us to understand how it can be used to deliver critical care and logistical
support in challenging environments with zero emissions.”

Why it matters: eVTOL platforms offer an opportunity to disrupt the emergency medical services and logistics sectors as demonstrated by this partnership and others of its kind throughout the industry. Babcock’s experience will complement Vertical’s VX4 and potentially the two can bring to market a transformed transportation experience for EMS responses.

Lilium, developer of the all-electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) Lilium Jet, has signed an agreement with AAP Aviation Group to develop an eVTOL network in Scandinavia. Under the agreement, AAP Aviation intends to purchase 40 Lilium Jets and collaborate with Lilium to identify and develop landing sites in the Scandinavian countries, starting with Norway.

Together, AAP Aviation and Lilium plan to offer sustainable travel mobility to Scandinavia using the all-electric Lilium Jet, supplementing existing regional aircraft routes and ensuring flexible and time-saving low-emission travel between cities and communities. AAP Aviation and Lilium expect the market for on-demand aviation services to grow rapidly, pending authority approval of aircraft models and route infrastructure.

Espen Høiby, CEO of AAP Aviation said: “We have disrupted the aviation industry once before and are set do so again. Due to the mix of water, terrain and mountains, Norway is particularly suited to regional air mobility. With its vertical take-off and landing capability, high speed and regional range, the Lilium Jet can achieve hours of time savings compared with today’s transportation modes. The Lilium Jet performance, its low noise profile and its spacious cabin makes the ideal aircraft to develop sustainable air transport in Scandinavia.”

Daniel Wiegand, CEO of Lilium said: “Norway is the world’s leader in sustainable practices, known to have the highest penetration of electric car ownership. Together with AAP’s operational expertise and knowledge of the region, we have the ideal conditions for an eVTOL revolution. We are proud to team up with AAP Aviation to bring electric, high-speed mobility to Norway and the rest of Scandinavia.”

The Lilium Jet, which is currently being developed in Germany, is expected to hold between four and six passengers and have a physical range of approximately 250 kilometers.

Why it’s important: AAP Aviation entered the market in 2013. Offering a wide range of professional services for the aviation industry, including crew management, the company, formerly known as OSM Aviation, quickly established operations in 19 countries worldwide, counting more than 6000 employees. Following a restructuring during the covid-19 pandemic, AAP Aviation is well positioned to now take a lead role in developing the next phase of sustainable regional air mobility.

Related: Lilium Selects Astronics for eVTOL Power Distribution and Charging Management

Source // Lilium press release

Mayman Aerospace, developer of an optionally-piloted, single-seat, high-powered VTOL utility aircraft, recently unveiled a prototype of its ‘Speeder’ at the 2022 Draper Venture Network CEO Summit in Northern California.

Above: A flight-ready prototype of the speeder was recently showcased at the 2022 Draper Venture Network CEO Summit in Northern California

The Speeder by Mayman Aerospace is features eight small jet engines, which will allow it to travel in unpiloted cargo mode for over 400 miles per flight at speeds over 500 mph, all while carrying up to 1000lbs of cargo. While the Speeder will be able to carry a pilot situated similarly as on a motorcycle, the unpiloted version’s high speed, range, and payload capacities will make it a highly useful tool in applications such as emergency response, firefighting, rapid cargo logistics, military operations, and much more.

At the Draper Venture Summit taking place in June of 2022, attendees of the networking event had the chance to view the details and design of the prototype aircraft as well as sit in the pilot’s position to get a sense of what this new vehicle will be like to fly.

Said Tim Draper, a primary investor in the Mayman, “The Speeder AUV is a total game changer. It is one of the most exciting, industry disrupting technologies we’ve seen and we were thrilled to provide this platform for its first public unveiling. We believe Speeder is the future of VTOL flight and I’m personally looking forward to flying one myself.”

Above: View from the open-air cockpit of the Mayman Aerospace Speeder prototype

In particular, the Speeder’s ability to fly in situations that would ground a helicopter, drone, or airplane, all while flying with extremely high payloads for long periods of time, has encouraged many organization to seek business with Mayman. According to a recent press release, the company is already in advanced conversations with potential customers in in national defense, critical cargo, wildland firefighting (coordinated swarmed support for air tankers) and disaster relief (delivery of medical supplies, water, generators, and medevac).

Mayman Aerospace is a new brand created by micro-jet engine expert Jetpack Aviation, which has been creating jetpack-related products for over ten years with great success. According to CEO David Mayman, the new brand was created to separate the company’s consumer markets from its commercial markets. This move will allow Mayman Aerospace to create a uniquely competitive and flexible product for customers in many industries, especially for customers interested in the cargo autonomous and remotely-piloted cargo versions of the aircraft.

Above: Rendering of a Mayman Aerospace speeder fighting a wind turbine fire.

Above: A cargo version of the Speeder will carry supplies between remote destinations

Why it’s important: While the Mayman Aerospace Speeder is not electrically powered, its VTOL capabilities in range, payload, and flight time far surpass options in development from many leading cargo eVTOL companies. While eVTOLs will be a low-impact option in cases of flights between consistent locations, the Mayman Speeder will be a far more capable option in higher-need situations like wildfires, emergency rescue, and rapid-cargo needs in difficult situations and terrain, where required flight times and capabilities will be high and unknown prior to missions. As Mayman Aerospace continues to make progress, industry stakeholders can begin to note in which situations and industries VTOL or electric VTOL aircraft will be more suitable.

EHang announced that its EH216 AAV has successfully completed a demo flight tour across 4 cities in Japan in July and expanded its footprint for the first time into the Kansai region, Kyushu region and Shikoku region after its demo flights in Okayama and Fukushima cities last year.

On July 18th, EH216 made an appearance on the ceremonial day marking the 1,000-day countdown to the opening of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. These recent unmanned EH216 demo flights in Japan included over-the-sea flights as well as point-to-point flights.

With the support of EHang’s local partners, including Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group, this EH216 flight tour in 4 Japanese cities made multiple breakthroughs in exploring urban air mobility use cases such as aerial sightseeing over the sea, air mobility, and smart logistics in Japan. On July 6, EH216 performed Japan’s first eVTOL demo flight over the sea for aerial sightseeing in Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture. On July 13, EH216 completed Japan’s first eVTOL point-to-point demo flight for air mobility in Oita City in Oita Prefecture. On July 21, EH216 conducted a demo flight carrying 80 kilograms of cargos for logistics transportation in Sakaide City in Kagawa Prefecture. Other than flight demos, EH216 has also been exhibited in downtown Oita on July 14 to further expand public cognition and interest in UAM for its future operations in Japan.

The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will introduce new and innovative VTOL technology to the public and has plans to use eVTOL vehicles for visitor transportation at the Expo. Japanese authorities have established a public-private council for air transportation reformation in accelerating the implementation of related schemes and roadmaps. On the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai 1000-day countdown ceremonial day, EH216 successfully completed a demo flight in Amagasaki City in Hyogo Prefecture, witnessed by local government officials and the Consulate-General of China in Osaka as well as press, in order to assist local authorities in exploring the application of autonomous air mobility solutions and promote eVTOL flights at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

Why it’s important: EH216’s flexibility in operability across multiple locales in quick succession are exemplary of the types of operation that eVTOL and AAM aircraft will support in the future. While the various use cases of EHang’s flights might not all be served in a single day of eVTOL operation, in certain situations they might be able to, if the need arises. Additionally, EHang’s increased flight footprint in Japan provides the opportunity for additional air traffic infrastructure to be laid in countries other than EHang’s native China, which will advance the global regulatory progression of UAM as well.

Elroy Air has announced that Bristow Group, one world’s leading helicopter operators for government and civil organizations, has signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 100 of Elroy’s Chaparral hybrid eVTOL cargo aircraft.

Abov: Rendering of an Elroy Air Chaparral aircraft in employment of Bristow Group

Bristow Group has over seven decades of experience in moving cargo for logistics, healthcare and energy applications, with a particular focus on offshore air transportation. According to representatives at Bristow, the company hopes to use Elroy’s Chaparral to expand its middle-mile cargo transportation business for healthcare, logistics, and energy markets to new areas that may not have airport infrastructure already in place.

Said Kofi Asante, Elroy’s vice president of business development and strategy, “The Chaparral creates a ‘fast-lane’ for middle-mile logistics to an unprecedented range of locations that can serve remote, rural areas and can fly over rough terrain.”

Notably, the Elroy Chaparral is not a fully electric aircraft, but a hybrid, which allows it additional route flexibility and the ability to achieve ranges of up to 300 miles per flight while carrying between 300 and 500 lbs of cargo. These capabilities far exceed those of any commercial delivery drones already on the market.

Bristow Group has also begun forming partnerships with other eVTOL developers such as Overair, EmbraerX’s Eve, and Vertical Aerospace. Meanwhile, Elroy Air has also formed partnerships with Fedex, AYR Logistics, and Mesa Airlines.

Why it’s Important: Bristow Group, as one of the world’s largest helicopter operator companies, has shown deep commitment to the future of eVTOL by partnering now with four major leading eVTOL developers. As a company as large as Bristow Group continues to show serious interest in eVTOL, the economic benefits of these aircraft become even more clear and certain. With thee Elroy Chaparral’s autonomous capabilities as well as its large payload and range capacities, Bristow should now be able to offer cargo transportation services to even more markets.

Source // Elroy Air

Related:

• FedEx to Test Autonomous Drone Cargo Delivery with Elroy Air (April 2022)
• Elroy Air Raises $40M Series A Funding Round (August 2021)
• Overair Partners with Bristow for eVTOL Operations (December 2021)
• Bristow Group orders up to 150 eVTOL Aircraft from EmbraerX and Vertical Aerospace (September 2021)

On day 4 of the Farnborough Airshow this year, EmbraerX’s Eve, which has recently made major strides in developing its eVTOL aircraft, unveiled a mockup of the aircraft’s cabin configuration.

“This mock-up brilliantly materialises the cabin concept we have been co-creating with potential users for years. We recently received feedback from our advisory board, and now we will be able to show it to other stakeholders here at Farnborough Airshow. Our solutions were designed considering essential market needs, such as accessibility, safety, sustainability, and ticket price. It is always exciting when we achieve this stage of the program,” said Flavia Ciaccia, Vice President of User Experience of Eve.

As part of the ongoing product development, the company also presented the current vehicle design that uses a conventional wing and tail instead of the previous canard configuration. The eight lift rotors are fixed around the wing, providing vertical take-off and landing capability as well as safety and reliability in a simple and intuitive lift-and-cruise design.

Andre Stein, Co-CEO of Eve, added: “Our teams have been working hard to create the best solutions for the global urban air mobility environment, and our aviation experience through Embraer not only gives us confidence that we are on the right path but also puts us at the forefront of the market. We’ve been accelerating our resources engagement and evolving the project’s maturity.”

Eve has been dedicated to fostering the UAM market across the globe and committed to enabling the new market sustainably and safely. The Company’s eVTOL will offer communities environment-friendly flights at a lower cost and is expected to enter into service in 2026.

Why it matters: With the industry giant air shows (Farnborough and Paris) recently making their post-COVID returns, many companies in the new aerial mobility industry are using the events to make key news releases. Despite economic headwinds, several eVTOL makers are still posting exciting updates and bringing their aerial mobility visions to reality with flight tests, product mockups, and progressive partnerships.

Source // Eve

Related:

• EVE, Embraer-backed eVTOL startup, now trading on NYSE (July 2022)
• Embraer’s Eve partners with Porsche Consulting to define eVTOL global strategy (June 2022)
• Nautilus and Embraer’s UAM subsidiary Eve partner to develop eVTOL ecosystem in Australia (December 2021)

Supernal and Electric Power Systems, Inc. (EP Systems) have announced a partnership to accelerate development and production of safe, lighter-weight, and certifiable eVTOL vehicle batteries.

The emerging industry leaders formalized their agreement during a ceremony held at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), resulting in the first vehicle partnership for Supernal. Supernal also displayed its eVTOL vehicle cabin concept at the FIA (Exhibit Hall 1, Pioneers of Change, Booth 1307).

EP Systems provides high-power, scalable and certifiable powertrains for electrified aviation. It develops energy storage systems, DC (direct current) fast-charging stations, and electric propulsion products for the aerospace, defense, automotive, marine and industrial traction industries. EP Systems has numerous battery systems currently powering manned and unmanned aircraft (e.g., Diamond eDA-40, NASA X-57, Aurora Flight Sciences Pegasus, Embraer Ipanema and Boeing CAV). Advanced features, such as its patented, lightweight containment box, produce safer battery systems that have resulted in a perfect safety record in field. 

The partnership between Supernal and EPS aims to enable the introduction of commercial eVTOL vehicle flights and support increasing enhancements to vehicle performance as the AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) market matures. Supernal, which is part of Hyundai Motor Group, plans to work within an “open ecosystem” model that will address the niche technology needs of AAM.

“Advanced Air Mobility requires an expansive value chain and many aspects — from battery power to digital infrastructure and passenger experience — require improvements and cross-chain integration to enable progress,” said Jaiwon Shin, President of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “We are excited to work with Electric Power Systems and develop game-changing technologies that will revolutionize air travel and increase human possibility.”

According to a recent Q&A with Kyle Heironimus, Head of Powertrain at Supernal, Supernal will continue growing its network of battery talent and partners to drive power, energy, charging time, and cycle life improvements that will lead to longer, more affordable eVTOL vehicle flights.

“We are pleased to partner with Supernal as it seeks to democratize flight and create a new, sustainable transport category,” said Nate Millecam, president and CEO of Electric Power Systems. “Supernal’s long-term perspective and comprehensive approach to co-developing the Advanced Air Mobility space has enabled it to be viewed as an industry thought leader and savvy partner of choice.”

See a video from the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) of Supernal’s new cabin concept below:

Why it’s important: EP Systems’ experience has given the company a broad perspective on the electric evolution taking place throughout aviation. All-electric aircraft need high-density energy storage, and by harnessing advancements in battery power and material technology, EP Systems’ unique battery management system provides an elevated solution. In partnership with Supernal, the two companies have great potential for marked improvements in energy storage technology that would benefit the aerial mobility industry as a whole.

Source // Supernal press release

Related:

• Hyundai Partners with Uber Elevate, Reveals New Air Taxi Concept (January 2020)
• Hyundai Announces US-Based ‘Supernal’ UAM Division (November 2021)
• Hyundai’s Supernal to Enable Development of Advanced Air Mobility in Miami (March 2022)

Joby Aviation announced late yesterday that it has formally applied for its revolutionary aircraft design to be certified for use in the United Kingdom.

While Joby is currently pursuing the “type certification” for its aircraft with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) and expects the U.S. to be its first operating market, this application will allow Joby’s U.S.-based certification to be concurrently validated by the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (“CAA”), accelerating the Company’s path to market in the U.K. Joby is believed to be the first eVTOL company to apply for foreign validation of its FAA type certificate.

With a maximum range of 150 miles and a quiet acoustic profile, Joby’s five-seat, piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft is designed to connect people and cities through fast, quiet, and emissions-free flight.

Joby’s application builds on a joint statement by the FAA and CAA in March, announcing their intent to leverage the existing Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the two regulators to streamline the introduction of eVTOL aircraft using existing regulatory frameworks.

“We’re incredibly excited about the potential for electric aerial ridesharing to offer a new form of clean and affordable urban and regional connectivity across the U.K., where more than 80% of the population lives in, or near, cities.”

Type certification is a multi-year process which sees a company undertake rigorous testing and documentation across each aircraft system in order to prove the aircraft is safe and ready for commercial operations. Similar type certification processes are undertaken for all aircraft, big and small – an approach that has helped shape air travel into one of the safest forms of transportation available today.

In March, Joby announced it had joined ADS Group, the premiere U.K. trade association for aerospace, defense and security companies, and is working with the U.K.’s leading provider of air traffic control services, NATS, to explore integration of Joby services into the U.K. airspace.

The press release from Joby occurred just prior to the start of the Farnborough International Airshow occurring this week (July 18-22) in Farnborough, UK.

Why it’s important: Joby’s announcement to pursue certification in the UK is a strategically timed information share with those in attendance at FIA 2022, and represents one of the first landmark announcements from an aerial mobility company during, or immediately prior, to one of the world’s largest airshows. With the rest of the week still ahead, expect other announcements related to certification, business partnerships, and more to follow.

Read the full press release here.

Dufour Aerospace, a Swiss company developing tilt-wing eVTOL aircraft, has announced a partnership with new Australian firm V-STAR Powered Lift Aviation for eVTOL applications in Australia.

Above: Rendering of Dufour Aerospace’s eVTOL on a potential rescue or cargo mission in Australia

Australian firm V-STAR Powered Lift Aviation is a newly formed venture by a group of business leaders with significant experience in defense, commercial, and search and rescue operations around the globe, and was created through a merger between two leading South Australia aviation businesses.

According to recent press release from Dufour, V-STAR sees the potential for many domestic applications of VTOL aircraft in Australia, and hopes to take advantage of the unique market opportunities presented by Dufour’s aircraft.

Said V-STAR’s CEO and Founder Tony Laws: “These new aircraft designs will change the way we approach regional travel and transport in Australia. Anywhere we need to get people and equipment quickly and cheaply is where these aeroplanes come in.”

The agreement between Dufour and V-STAR will give V-STAR early access to Dufour’s unmanned and manned tilt-wing aircraft. The unmanned aircraft will be capable of carrying up to 88 lbs of cargo, while the manned version could carry up to 7 passengers plus a pilot, or about 1600 lbs of cargo.

Dufour’s Co-Founder and CEO Thomas Pfammatter commented: “We are very much looking forward to exploring the many opportunities for deploying unmanned and manned tilt-wing aircraft in Australia. The formation of V-STAR Powered Lift Aviation marks an important milestone in this journey. We are proud to be working with such an experienced team to move sustainable aviation forward.”

Dufour has over 30 years of experience in Swiss commercial helicopter operations, and has been working on its eVTOL program since 2018. Watch a recent test flight video of a scale prototype from Dufour below:

Why it’s important: With this announcement, V-STAR and Dufour aerospace have given themselves additional credibility on the market, and have begun to set up a path to commercial operations for Dufour’s eVTOL aircraft. With the aerial mobility on the rise in Australia, Dufour and V-STAR are now well set up to make their mark on this new aerial transportation industry.

Source // Dufour Aerospace

Related:

• Australia Releases Timeline for Advanced Aerial Mobility Progress; Skyportz Positions for Future (July 2022)
• Savback Helicopters to distribute Dufour Aerospace eVTOL aircraft in Scandinavia (January 2022)
• A First Look at Aero3, Dufour Aerospace’s Flagship eVTOL Aircraft (August 2021)
• Dufour and Blueberry Aviation Enter Strategic Partnership (April 2022)

Vertical Aerospace has announced that it has confirmed delivery slots and the commitment of associated pre-delivery payments with American Airlines in a company press release this week.

Above: Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL featured with American Airlines’ branding.

American Airlines has reserved delivery slots for the first 50 VX4 aircraft of its initial conditional pre-order of up to 250 aircraft, with an option for an additional 100, announced in June 2021. The parties will also continue their existing joint work group to explore the future of advanced air mobility and prepare for the VX4’s entry into service.

The commitment to pay pre-delivery payments and confirmation of slot reservations for the first 50 aircraft is believed to be the first for a major airline in the eVTOL industry, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between American and Vertical and a historical event for aerial mobility.

This announcement follows Vertical’s recent news of a further 50 conditional pre-orders from FLYINGGROUP, the selection of Molicel as its battery partner, and an agreement by the UK for concurrent certification with the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Above: A full-scale prototype of Vertical Aerospace’s VX4

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder & CEO of Vertical said “We are delighted to have reached this major milestone with American Airlines on our eVTOL partnership. Together, we are making zero-emissions flight a reality for passengers travelling all over the world. We look forward to continuing our work with American and seeing the first red, white and blue VX4 come off the production line.”

American Airlie’s Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr stated “Our partnership with Vertical is a great example of progress in our commitment to reducing carbon emissions throughout our airline and the industry,” “We have made great strides in simplifying our fleet with newer and more fuel-efficient aircraft, and are proud to take part in another step toward the development of advanced air mobility.”

Why it matters: This pre-payment is the first of its kind in an order of eVTOL aircraft from a major airline. The advance payment signals American Airlines’ commitment to obtaining these aircraft and utilizing their potential to offer customers superior air travel experiences such as services from major airports to city centers and more.

Source // American Airlines, Vertical Aerospace

Related:

• Vertical Aerospace reveals full-scale eVTOL aircraft ahead of SPAC merger (December 2021)
• Vertical Aerospace Selects Molicel to provide VX4 Battery Cells (July 2022)
• Vertical Aerospace to go Public with a $2.2b Merger (June 2021)

Volocopter has partnered with Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to launch a VoloCity public exhibition including free guided tours in the Lion City. This is Volocopter’s first exhibition to feature its commercial air taxi model in Asia, and the company’s first-ever long-term exhibition to open its doors to the public anywhere in the world.

Starting August 2022, Volocopter will be offering free guided tours on a regular basis. The company invites anyone interested in taking one to sign up here.

Located at Aerospace Hub, ITE College Central, the exhibition features a 3D VoloPort scale model and detailed information on both the UAM industry and Volocopter. Visitors will also have the chance to sit in the aircraft and get a sense of what this new form of transportation will be like.

Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong, and German Ambassador to Singapore Dr. Norbert Riedel, both attended the opening ceremony alongside other senior representatives from Singapore government agencies and Volocopter’s partners.

Gan Kim Yong said: “Singapore welcomes innovative companies like Volocopter which seek to build entirely new industries here. We are excited about the prospects of developing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem in Singapore, and hope that through this exhibit, the public can learn more about this new form of urban mobility.”

Singapore is one of the first launch cities for Volocopter. The German company conducted Asia’s first crewed public test flight of an air taxi in a city centre over Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay in 2019, and has been working very closely with the city. It is committed to launching the UAM services in Singapore in the next couple of years. It has recently released a dedicated roadmap that revealed its UAM services could generate an estimated SGD 4.18 billion in cumulative economic benefits and create up to 1,300 jobs in Singapore by 2030.

Why it’s important: Earlier this year, Volocopter Completed the first full-scale flight of its VoloCity eVTOL and it’s now ready for regular public visbility. According to Chief Commercial Officer, Christian Bauer, “This is the perfect time to showcase our VoloCity in Singapore, as our latest local market survey showed a significant uptick in the proportion of respondents who are excited to try an air taxi service. We hope to increase public awareness and education on this new form of mobility and the many ways it will benefit Singapore. We are partnering with local institutions and organizations as we build our UAM ecosystem.”

Aerial mobility will take a large part in Farnborough International Airshow 2022, as companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Vertical Aerospace, Lilium, and more will be in attendance to showcase their technology. The airshow, which occurs July 18-22 at the Farnborough airport in the UK, will be a landmark opportunity after a three year COVID induced hiatus for companies, consumers, and aviation enthusiasts to come together in person and recap the developments and accomplishments of previous years, as well as chart the course for the coming era.

One of FIA 2022’s themes is sustainability in aviation – with an increased focus on the electrification of aviation, sustainable aviation fuels, and momentum behind enabling technologies that can be applied to existing aircraft today for applications ultimately in the AAM space.

Boeing’s FIA 2022 listing states the company will have exhibits focusing on “renewable energy, hydrogen fuels and all-electric, self-flying air taxis” (formerly Wisk Aero’s Cora). Other companies will similarly be showcasing their technologies that further sustainable aviation; aerial mobility players such as Vertical Aerospace, a home-bred AAM company based in the UK, as well as Lilium will highlight their all-electric aircraft as the perfect configuration for the future.

Other priorities for FIA 2022 include “future flight” with reference toward the new and novel configurations of AAM aircraft and dedicated showcase locations and forums for companies that are enabling the next generation of technology. This theme families well with that of Innovation and Sustainability, as aerial mobility technology largely builds off multiple of FIA’s focus areas for this year.

Why it’s important: A growing aerial mobility presence is occurring at trade shows and leading industry airshows worldwide, reflecting the inroads that many of the technologies purpose-built for aerial mobility and electric aviation have for the entire aviation industry. Further, as many shows transition their focus to future aviation technology, it’ll become readily apparent in short order that technologies developed for aerial mobility have applicability far beyond the eVTOL space. Airshows with a large amount of intermingling between these types of companies will serve as opportunities for these sorts of organic connections to occur.

Vertical Aerospace has partnered with E-One Moli Energy Corp (aka Molicel) to provide high-performance battery cells for its upcoming VX4 eVTOL aircraft. Molicel is an industry leader in high-power lithium-ion cells, already with clients such as NASA and Williams Advanced Engineering.

Above: Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL, expected to achieve certification by 2024

Vertical Aerospace’s eVTOL aircraft has been in development for several years, and is now one of top eVTOL vehicles on the market nearing certification alongside experts like Joby Aviation, Lilium, and Beta Technologies. It features semi-autonomous capabilities, an all-electric range of over 100 miles, and room for four passengers plus a pilot. The company recently went public on the New York Stock Exchange, and has received valuations upwards of $1 billion USD.

Now, Vertical Aerospace has taken another major developmental step by choosing Molicel to supply high power cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells for the production version of the VX4. The batteries from Molicel will combine Molicel’s cell technology with Vertical’s proprietary battery pack design, and will be used in the VX4 through to certification and entry into service. In particular, Molicel specializes in high-powered cells, low impedance,
fast charging, and high-performance applications, making them an excellent partner for Vertical Aerospace.

According to a recent press release, Vertical reviewed the capabilities of dozens of cell manufacturers before selecting Molicel as its battery partner, as it believes Molicel is uniquely placed to meet the performance and safety requirements of the VX4 and to continue to deliver innovation and improved performance over time.

Above: An example of the eVTOL battery pack by Vertical Aerospace that utilizes Molicel battery cells

Molicel has over 40 years’ experience in energy research and development, and will now form a working group with Vertical Aerospace to ensure the resulting battery system is safe, reliable, economical, and ready to meet every need of the VX4 aircraft. The new system will be certified concurrently with the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Casey Shiue, President of Molicel, said: “We have long been known as the pioneers of high power, low impedance, fast charge battery cell technology and have vast experience across a range of applications. We are on a mission to produce outstanding cells to drive the electric evolution and are very excited to enter this strategic partnership with Vertical Aerospace. We work with some of the best engineers in the world and have been immensely impressed by Vertical’s technical and engineering pedigree. We see our technology is a key enabler of safe and efficient flight, and we look forward to working with Vertical Aerospace to bring their revolutionary VX4 aircraft to the skies.”

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder & CEO of Vertical Aerospace commented: “The future of electric aviation is dependent on safe, high-performance battery systems and fundamental to this is the battery cells themselves. That’s why I am delighted to be partnering with Molicel, producer of the world’s highest power cells. Molicel has a rich history of innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in energy storage. We see many similarities between ourselves and Molicel and we couldn’t think of a better partner to bring the VX4 to market.”

Above: Leaders at Vertical Aerospace and Molicel with the VX4 eVTOL aircraft behind them

Why it’s important: As eVTOL developers are nearing commercial readiness, many are forming partnerships that will supply components for the final mass-produced versions of their aircraft. With these companies closer to commercial operations than ever before, followers can note which kind of companies are being selected to be part of this rapidly expanding industry.

Source // Molicel, Vertical Aerospace

Related:

• Airlines are Ordering Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL from Avolon (March 2022)
• Vertical Aerospace reveals full-scale eVTOL aircraft ahead of SPAC merger (December 2021)
• Vertical Aerospace & Heathrow Airport to collaborate on future of urban air mobility (November 2021)
• Bristow Group orders up to 150 eVTOL Aircraft from EmbraerX and Vertical Aerospace (September 2021)

Overair, Inc. and Toray Composite Materials America have announced a strategic collaboration for utilization of Toray’s advanced prepreg system in Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL prototype program.

Above: Rendering of Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL prototype with Toray T1100/3960 carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg. The prepreg provides high stiffness and strength for the prototype’s airframe and propulsion units.

The airframe of Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL prototype utilizes Toray’s T1100/3960 prepreg system, a material that is formulated for high-performance aerospace applications where the optimal ratio of strength to modulus properties is critical. Toray’s 3960 is a highly-toughened 350°F/177°C cure epoxy resin with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 400°F/204°C. It is optimized for increased performance and allows for autoclave and out-of-autoclave curing. The resin is synergistic with the TORAYCA™ T1100 next-generation intermediate modulus plus (IM+) carbon fiber, which is the highest tensile strength fiber available today. The T1100/3960 unidirectional and plain weave prepreg is utilized both in the Butterfly’s airframe structure and propulsion units.

“We’re excited to be working closely with Toray’s advanced materials as we continue the development of our all-electric Butterfly experimental prototype aircraft,” said Ben Tigner, Co-Founder and CEO at Overair. “Our unique propulsion system requires materials that provide a unique combination of high stiffness and high strength, while also maintaining the optimal weight targets for the vehicle.”

Overair recently completed full-scale testing of the Butterfly’s propulsion system. The successful testing program validated Overair’s design choices and the Butterfly’s expected performance capabilities. The Butterfly’s prototype propeller will be showcased at the Farnborough International Air Show from July 18 to July 22 in Farnborough, England.

“It is an honor for Toray to partner with Overair on this endeavor and provide the Butterfly a unique performance advantage with our 3960 prepreg system,” according to Jeff Cross, Director of Business Development for Aerospace at Toray. “We’re excited for the future as Overair proceeds with full-scale development and testing. The proven performance of our materials gives me confidence that we can help achieve Overair’s objective of producing the safest, most efficient, and reliable eVTOL aircraft.”

Why it matters: Tacoma, Washington based Toray has a long time partnership with Boeing on the 777/777X and 787 programs with extensive experience in advanced composite manufacturing for aerospace applications. Next-generation materials from Toray will provide Overair’s prototype with excellent physical properties while minimizing weight and maximizing payload and vehicle range.