Month: May 2023

LIFT Aircraft announced Monday the advent of their Beta program, which will allow investors that contribute $5,000 or more via StartEngine to have early access to flight training for HEXA flights at their Austin, Texas headquarters.

The company shared that they’re able to make this step forward now that they’ve completed testing of their beginner customer flight envelope in partnership with the US Air Force, and received approval from our Safety Advisory Board. LIFT has stated that this is the last step prior to their full public launch and US Tour.

LIFT has raised $18M in funding from VC’s, accredited investors, and US government grants, including over $5M from crowd sourced investing. Over 2,500 people have reportedly contributed.

In other recent news, LIFT completed the first-ever piloted eVTOL demonstration flights in Japan with the HEXA aircraft. The flights were conducted in partnership with Marubeni Corporation, with whom the Austin, Texas based company is partnering to develop and advance the eVTOL market in Japan, and with participation from GMO Internet Group.

LIFT has formally concluded Phase 1 flight test and beginner flight envelope development with the U.S. Air Force and has launched Alpha Flights, allowing people outside of their Flight Operations and Test teams to fly.

Related:

• LIFT Signs Letter of Intent For Usage in Manhattan, Charm Pre-Orders 100 HEXA PAV’s
• LIFT’s HEXA to Advance to Phase 3 Contract with USAF
• LIFT Aircraft and Parallel Flight Technologies Announce Hybrid Propulsion Partnership

Why it’s important: LIFT’s announcement would allow the public to visit LIFT’s flight test center in Austin and fly the HEXA prototype themselves for $5,000. LIFT has maintained a goal of making flying accessible to the general public and is backing up their intent by offering flight tests for a small fraction of the price of purchasing a HEXA. Additionally, these trial flight tests will offer more visibility to LIFT’s technology and enable the public to have increased visibility of the future of aerial mobility technologies.

To invest in LIFT, view the company’s StartEngine page here.

Lilium (listed on NASDAQ as LILM), developer of the all-electric vertical take-off and landing Lilium jet, has announced a capital raise for up to $250 million, with $100 million funded at close. A Form 6-K has been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission as of May 1, 2023.

This capital raise enables Lilium to continue the development of its Lilium Jet at full pace and the company states that it should cover most of the estimated capital required to achieve first manned flight of the type-conforming aircraft.

Once this development milestone is achieved, which is planned for the second half of 2024, Lilium expects to benefit from the contribution of substantial pre-delivery payments (PDPs) which will help fund its subsequent capital requirements.

Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe stated, “The capital raise announced today marks an important development in our ongoing mission to revolutionize the aviation industry. With this financing, we are excited to continue our development program at full pace. We remain in multiple constructive discussions with existing and potential new investors. We hope to announce further updates soon.”

This announcement follows a funding disclosure in November 2022 during which Lilium secured an additional $119M USD in capital from existing shareholders, new investors, and strategic partners.

Meanwhile, Lilium has expanded into the UK market with eVolare by signing a binding contract which includes pre-delivery payment for up to 20 Lilium eVTOL aircraft. The partnership includes a firm commitment for 10 Lilium Pioneer Edition Jets, with an option to purchase an additional 10 Lilium Pioneer Edition Jets at a later date.

Why it’s important: As one of the leading eVTOL developers in the race to certification and commercial service, securing a long enough financial runway to enable development and testing is critical to the company’s success. First movers in the industry will likely obtain a competitive advantage by simply being first to market and in the consumers’ view, so Lilium has evidently mitigated any deceleration on its path to certification that could have occurred due to lack of funding.

Mexico City, May 4, 2023 – Redwings, a business aviation service group that provides aircraft management, charter, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, announced today its plan to launch eVTOL air-taxi services in Mexico City, with the signing of a letter of intent to purchase up to 20 of Jaunt Air Mobility’s four-passenger Journey eVTOL aircraft. The move is part of Redwings’ strategy to expand its service offerings and meet the growing demand for on-demand air transportation.

Jaunt Air Mobility is an aerospace company that designs and develops advanced air vehicles for urban air mobility. The company’s Journey eVTOL aircraft combines a fixed wing and a rotor with patented slow-rotor compound technology, which reduces drag and vibration by lowering the speed of the main rotor to around 10 rpm during cruise flight. The aircraft is expected to have a maximum speed of 175 mph on flights of up to around 100 miles.

Redwings plans to begin operations in Mexico with 10 units, with options for 10 more, pending the completion of Jaunt’s type certification under Transport Canada Part 529 requirements in 2027. The company is confident in the Journey’s ability to operate at altitude, particularly in Mexico City, which has an elevation of 7,349 feet, higher than Denver, Colorado. According to Redwings President Bernardo Moreno, “The Journey’s highly efficient vertical flight capability enables this aircraft to operate at altitude with no performance limitations.”

Redwings currently operates a fleet of managed aircraft, including Embraer Legacy 600 and Hawker 800XPi jets, and a Bell 505 helicopter. The company also runs a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Queretaro Intercontinental Airport, around 130 miles northwest of Mexico City, and provides business aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

The addition of eVTOL air-taxi services to its portfolio will be a significant growth opportunity for Redwings, as it seeks to leverage the benefits of this technology to deliver faster and more efficient air travel options to its customers. “We are excited to partner with Jaunt Air Mobility to bring their innovative eVTOL technology to our customers,” said Moreno. “Our goal is to provide safe and reliable air-taxi services that deliver the convenience and flexibility our customers need to travel quickly and efficiently within and around Mexico City.”

Redwings’ move into the eVTOL market is in line with the growing trend towards urban air mobility and the use of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft to reduce emissions and congestion in major international cities. With its existing resources, the company is well-poised to take advantage of this trend and position itself as a leader in the aerial mobility industry in Mexico.

Why it’s important: Redwings’ announcement to launch eVTOL air-taxi services with Jaunt Air Mobility’s Journey aircraft in Mexico City represents another key area of internal growth for aerial mobility industry. The Journey aircraft’s unique slow-rotor compound technology makes it well-suited for operating at high altitudes, opening even more markets for the aircraft. Additionally, Redwings’ investment in eVTOL technology with its strong presence in Mexico City highlights the potential for eVTOLs to integrate with existing aviation services and infrastructure.

Related:

• BLADE Air Mobility signs MoU with Jaunt for Operations in India (April 2023)
• Jaunt and MintAir partner to launch aerial mobility service in South Korea (September 2022)
• AIRO Group, parent company of Jaunt, prepares for IPO (April 2022)
• L&T Technology Services is Awarded $100 million to Manufacture Jaunt Air Mobility Aircraft (April 2022)

ZeroAvia has announced a major partnership with Alaska Airlines to develop a 76-passenger, hydrogen fuel-cell powered aircraft. The aircraft will be a Bombardier Q400, which was provided to ZeroAvia by Alaska Airlines. ZeroAvia will retrofit the Q400 with hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion to make it the first of its kind.

ZeroAvia, a major developer of hydrogen-electric powertrains for commercial aircraft, has already had great success in setting multiple hydrogen propulsion records in flight-tested aircraft.

Through this partnership, ZeroAvia was officially provided with a retired Alaska Airlines Bombardier Q400. Thanks to this donation, ZeroAvia will be able to convert the Dash-8 airframe into the largest hydrogen-powered aircraft ever to take flight.

At the partnership event, ZeroAvia also debuted its multi-megawatt modular electric motor system in a 1.8MW prototype, which featured a live demonstration with a propeller spin on ZeroAvia’s ground-test rig. When combined with ZeroAvia’s in-house developed higher temperature PEM fuel cells and advanced power electronics, this advanced electric motor technology becomes one of the crucial elements needed to make hydrogen fuel cell engines commercially viable for larger aircraft.

ZeroAvia’s 15-ton “HyperTruck” ground-test rig

Said Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, “Demonstrating this size of aircraft in flight, powered entirely by novel propulsion, would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Launching this program puts us on track for a test flight next year, and accelerates our progress toward the future of zero-emission flight for Alaska Airlines and for the world at large.”

ZeroAvia plans is targeting a 300-mile range in 9–19 seat aircraft by 2025, and up to 700-mile range in 40–80 seat aircraft by 2027. The company has already demonstrated a successful test flight this January of a 19-seat aircraft with its prototype 600kW hydrogen-electric engine (ZA600), and has secured $10B in pre-orders from a number of major global airlines. The company is on track for commercial operations of retrofitted aircraft by 2025.

Alaska Airlines established a collaboration with ZeroAvia in 2021, and made a major investment in the company to facilitate the advancement of zero emissions propulsion technology for regional aircraft.

Why it’s important: As one of the largest airlines in the U.S. with a broad regional network, Alaska is has an exceptional opportunity to begin integrating zero-emissions propulsion technology into its regional fleet. Through this partnership, ZeroAvia will be given a chance to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen-propulsion for larger aircraft, and Alaska Airlines will be able to set a precedent for zero-emissions regional transportation.

Source // Alaska Airlines, Electrek

Related:

• ZeroAvia Achieves ‘Record-Breaking’ Hydrogen Fuel Cell Performance (March 2023)
• ZeroAvia Achieves First Flight of its Hydrogen-Electric Prototype (January 2023)
• Hydrogen-Powered ZeroAvia Aircraft Takes Flight (August 2019)

Celeros, the next generation of mixed-reality games, has been announced and plans to include a premier racing experience as well as create real-world professional pathways.

Through ‘Play2Impact’, developed by media and entertainment company and Celeros creator and owner, Saltwater Games, players in Celeros will be able to compete to earn in-game digital assets which they can use in a host of ways, including investing in realworld causes.

With 3.24bn active gamers around the world, Play2Impact has the potential to drive real change. Through an official partnership with Airspeeder, the world’s first crewed racing eVTOL series, AirspeederXR will be the first race series to take part in Celeros, and will be a game brought to fruition by developers of titles such as Gran Turismo, WipEout, and Need for Speed, to ensure a dynamic and authentic racing experience.

Len Findlay, CEO of Saltwater Games, said: “We’re dedicated to creating a worldleading gaming experience that combines modern and future motorsport with an innovative game economy that supports real-world environmental projects. We’re using the latest technology to build a community where gamers can come together to race and learn, all while making a positive impact on our planet. With Celeros, players will be able to enjoy the excitement of competitive mixed-reality racing while also engaging in Play2Impact, a groundbreaking initiative that allows gamers and partners alike to make a real difference in the lives of millions of people.”

Matt Pearson, CEO of Airspeeder, said: “Celeros will push the envelope of what is achievable when gamers come together, revolutionizing impact through gameplay. The first doors into the world of Celeros are now open and we’re inviting people to take part in a new pilot academy to learn more about the AirspeederXR Race Series and the vehicles they will be able to fly.”

Celeros is set in the near future at the dawn of a new golden age for humankind. It will include a multiplayer racing experience, augmented by real-world physics data, and will allow racing and flying enthusiasts the opportunity to learn, race, configure their speeder, and hone their skills with a chance to become a real pilot when Airspeeder launches its crewed racing series this year.

Why it’s important: Airspeeder’s inclusion in Celeros represents an opportunity for increased exposure of aerial mobility companies to a new and diverse audience as well as a way to develop personal connections and excitement toward these new types of technology. Further, licensing revenues from the agreement should also help propel Airspeeder forward as they continue to work toward launching their crewed racing series this year. And finally, the launch of Celeros includes an online academy that helps educate participants about Collision Avoidance Systems and Airspeeder/eVTOL technologies.