Russian startup Flyter has taken the next important step in testing the design of its 2-seater PAC 720-200. 

The Flyter PAC 720-200 is capable of carrying 440 lbs with a max range of 560 miles.

Flyter has been around since February 2018. Since then, it unveiled its concept for the PAC 720-200, a two-seater VTOL aircraft that flies like a small plane but can take off like a helicopter. Flyter’s goal is to make an aircraft that can both use airports as well as access more remote locations.

The Flyter 720-200 features a total of eight downward-facing lift propellors. Flyter states that although the it would have liked to use only four props, efficiency and thrust requirements led to the four-prop design.

In the latest test, Flyter successfully proves many of the predicted thrust and efficiency calculations. The design itself is unique in that propellors sit under the wing rather than on top of it, and the test proved the functionality of this concept. While many eVTOL prototypes (such as the Boeing PAV) use only upward facing propellors and others use a combination of upward and downward facing propellors, Flyter is one of the only companies to use solely downward facing propellors.

Watch the company’s full description of the flight test below:

Flyter is also one of the only eVTOL developers in Russia, and is proceeding with testing on schedule. The company begun taking investors in April of this year. Rather than targeting an urban air taxi market, Flyter’s strategy is to provide a vehicle that can access remote locations of Russia. The company will make both a passenger and autonomous cargo version of the PAC 720-200, and intends to use hybrid power for maximum range.

For more about Flyter, visit its website here.

Why it’s important: Since Flyter is one of the only eVTOL developers in Russia, it has a good chance of being first to capture VTOL flight demand there. Through its latest round successful of testing, Flyter sets a precedent for future progress, securing itself as a technology leader in Russia. Flyter’s next steps will involve continuous testing and eventual prototyping and certification.

Beta Technologies announced recently that they will enhance their focus on the development and certification of a conventional configuration electric aircraft. Beta is labeling the configuration as an eCTOL aircraft (electric conventional takeoff/landing).

The company has been flight testing a conventional fixed-wing version of its eVTOL prototype, which will now become the company’s certification candidate. The aircraft, called CX300, will generate lift from its wings rather than lifting propellers and has already generated orders from the cargo, medical, and defense sectors.

“We continue to progress our ALIA eVTOL design through certification, in harmony with the eCTOL program,” BETA Technologies Founder and CEO Kyle Clark said. “The two aircraft are common in their design, allowing us to economize validation of our high-performance solutions. With the eCTOL aircraft launch, we have further de-risked our path to commercialization and concurrently provide lower cost, more utility, and optionality to operators. This has given us the confidence to industrialize and invest heavily in production at scale over the last year.”

Beta intends to have the CX300 fully certified and ready for delivery by 2025. The company will continue development and certification efforts of its ALIA-250 eVTOL which will be closely based on the design of the CX300.

The company states that manufacturing will begin at the new South Burlington production facility this summer.

Why it matters: Amid regulatory churn and uncertainty over the future market demand and infrastructure required to support the eVTOL space, manufacturers like Beta are taking a middle ground on the innovation curve. By maintaining a conventional fixed wing configuration, operators can take fully advantage of the cost savings from the implantation of an electric aircraft for commercialization, while developers still pursue eVTOL models simultaneously. With planned certification only two years away, Beta has provided itself with a new road to market entry.

Source // Beta Technologies

Related:

ZeroAvia has announced that it achieved record-breaking performance in testing of its High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) systems.

Above: Zero Avia’s 19-seat hydrogen fuel cell aircraft

Early testing of the pressurized 20kW HTPEM stack power module in ZeroAvia’s UK R&D location has demonstrated a record 2.5 kW/kg specific power at the cell level, paving the way for 3+ kW/kg system level densities in the next 24 months.

ZeroAvia’s team has made unprecedented deep tech breakthroughs by delivering a pressurized HTPEM system, innovative conductive coatings enabling the use of aluminum bipolar plates in highly aggressive HTPEM environments, and a novel approach to advanced membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

Related: ZeroAvia Achieves First Flight of its Hydrogen-Electric Prototype

ZeroAvia’s proprietary technology has been developed over the last three years as part of a concentrated effort to build an in-house portfolio of critical technologies for fuel cell aviation. Further R&D will deliver over 3kW/kg fuel cell system specific power, which enables a step change in performance relative to the traditional fuel cell technologies, making fuel cell propulsion commercially viable for large aircraft. Specifically, the HTPEM systems will be prime candidates to support ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 powertrain for 40-80 seat aircraft, as well as a range of rotorcraft and eVTOL applications. This next generation of fuel cells could also be sufficient to enable electric propulsion systems for 100+ seat single-aisle turbofan aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

The components used in the ZeroAvia system have already been validated through third-party independent testing at several independent labs, including a leading U.S. Department of Energy national lab. The testing confirms the potential for HTPEM systems to accelerate the development of large hydrogen-electric powertrains for large aircraft.

ZeroAvia’s recent breakthrough first flight of a 19-seat aircraft utilized Low Temperature PEM (LTPEM) fuel cell systems. Today’s LTPEM systems work well for the sub-megawatt scale of these smaller aircraft, but the lower stack core temperatures make it harder to remove heat from the larger systems. HTPEM technology eliminates a number of components from the fuel cell system and reduces cooling drag, thereby enabling commercially relevant payload and range for larger aircraft. ZeroAvia’s HTPEM can also offer greater durability, further reducing operating costs for airlines. 

Val Miftakhov, CEO and founder of ZeroAvia, said: “The companies and geographies that seize the lead in high fuel cell temperatures and pressures will lead the industry. This progression is similar to the story of turbine engines, where ever-increasing temperatures and pressures drove higher and higher performance. Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion is the most environmental and economical alternative to existing engines, and HTPEM is the most promising route to delivering these benefits into large aircraft categories. I am confident that what we are demonstrating now is the core building block to delivering zero-emission flight for all categories of aircraft in the long-term.”

Interest in hydrogen combustion power, which differs from the electrically-powered fuel cell solution in ZeroAvia aircraft, has grown considerably in recent months. Hydrogen combustion engines are being developed to remove carbon emissions from flight, but they face the steep environmental penalty of maintaining or increasing the non-CO2 emissions impacts of aviation on the climate. These non-CO2 impacts are thought to have twice the climate impact of carbon emissions alone, according to a report from EASA. A non-combustion, hydrogen-electric approach like ZeroAvia’s eliminates extreme material stresses inherent in modern combustion engines, which dramatically reduces maintenance costs, further improving the economics of the hydrogen-electric propulsion.

Why it’s important: Developing fuel cell technology for aviation is critical to enable true zero-emission commercial flight, and for energy intensive applications – like large fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft – it is necessary to increase the temperature and pressure within fuel cell stacks in order to have a commercially viable product. Increased temperature and pressure allows for air cooling, reduces cooling drag, simplifies the system, and ultimately enables much more demanding applications. Zeroavia’s demonstration of this increase capability is a major milestone in the technological development and points towards a future world of aviation that runs on hydrogen.

SkyDrive, a Japanese eVTOL developer, has announced a partnership with VPorts to establish the world’s first Advanced Aerial Mobility Integrator World Center in Dubai. Taking up 37,000 square meters, the Center will be an operations control hub for Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft in Dubai.

Above: Concept Vertiport by SkyDrive

VPorts Air Traffic Management Inc. (“VPorts”), is a global leader in the design, construction, and operation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure for upcoming vertical aircraft. The company was founded by experts in transportation infrastructure design and construction, city planning, and airport operations and design. The firm’s mission is to “shape the future development of safe advanced air mobility based on sustainable infrastructure.”

According to a recent press release by SkyDrive, the two companies have signed initial agreements to collaborate on the “technical and business” aspects of the upcoming Integrator Center, to leverage its use for the “business
development and market expansion” of both companies. This likely means that SkyDrive will have input into the Center’s design, so that it’s aerial mobility aircraft and flight services can be easily integrated.

Said Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, “We are pleased to be taking a part in the UAE government’s strategy for AAM, particularly in Dubai as it is one of the fastest growing and leading AAM markets in the world. we are committed to making AAM transportation affordable to all in a highly accessible way, helping commuters access city centers and mobility hubs. By collaborating with VPorts, we are able to secure an air traffic corridor for our vehicle testing with our eVTOL capabilities which would be essential to ensure its safety before deployment in the urban areas.”  

Featured above is SkyDrive’s latest concept aircraft, the SD-05. This all-electric VTOL will be capable of carrying two passengers semi-autonomously, with air taxi services scheduled to launch in Osaka, Japan in 2025.

Said Dr. Fethi Chebil, CEO and Founder of VPorts, “We welcome SkyDrive to join us in shaping the future of the AAM sector by leveraging the world’s first Integrator Center, including its facilities and airspace. Our presence in Dubai is in line with our strategy and ambition to build and operate 1,500 vertiports around the world by 2045.”

Why it’s important: With this announcement, SkyDrive is making moves to establish itself as an early global leader in Advanced Aerial Mobility. By working with experts like Vports to establish the World Center, SkyDrive has an opportunity to set a global example in aerial mobility infrastructure and supporting operations.

Source // SkyDrive, VPorts

Related:

• SkyDrive brings their eVTOL Aircraft to South Carolina to break into U.S Markets (February 2023)
• SkyDrive Receives Order for up to 100 eVTOLs from Pacific Group (November 2022)
• SkyDrive Ranks Second in World Startup Competition (September 2022)

Adacel Technologies, an air traffic management and ATC simulation and training systems company, announced last week their Aurora ATM system was delivered to Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) and has successfully passed the Site Acceptance Testing.

Seychelles’ new Aurora ATM system, developed to modernize SCAA’s air traffic management system, will enhance ATM service delivery by providing surveillance control with space- and ground-based ADS-B stations. Aurora is a 4D flight profile-based ATM system incorporating all available surveillance sources, with advanced automation capabilities for oceanic, enroute, approach, and tower control.

“We are proud to successfully pass this important milestone with SCAA and look forward to the introduction of the Aurora ATM system into the Seychelles Flight Information Region,” shares Daniel Verret, Adacel’s CEO. “The new system will enhance airspace efficiency, enable higher levels of service to airspace users, and reduce controller workload,” continues Mr. Verret.

Speaking about the implementation of the new Aurora system, SCAA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Garry Albert said: “Reaching this project stage is a great accomplishment for us. By installing this state-of-the-art system, we will modernize the air traffic service to a level that has never been seen before in Seychelles. The collaboration with the professional team from Adacel has ensured that we have one of the most advanced systems. Combining this new technology with SCAA’s well-trained human resources, we will provide an excellent service to our stakeholders from all over the world who fly in our vast oceanic airspace located on the east coast of Africa.”

Why it’s important: The Aurora ATM system is an advancement in modern air traffic control infrastructure which should allow for proving of the system in a lower risk location while also providing data to inform future improved iterations that will be applied not only to fixed wing air traffic but eventually to unmanned aerial mobility service as well. A number of other companies in the air traffic and unmanned air traffic management space are working to further improve their offerings and prepare for increased traffic demands in the future.

Sikorsky has announced plans to build a full scale, autonomous, hybrid-electric technology demonstrator to research commercial and military eVTOL missions. The prototype is dubbed under the program name HEX and will feature a gross weight of more than 7,000 pounds. The uncrewed aircraft will act as a test bed for evaluation of eVTOL aircraft design and propulsion systems. The project also will partner with GE Aerospace and its CT7 turboshaft engine with 1MW-class generator currently under production for the US Army and NASA.

“As Sikorsky celebrates 100 years of flight innovations, it’s fitting to highlight our continued commitment to safe and sustainable transformative flight,” said Paul Lemmo, Sikorsky president. “Sikorsky’s HEX aircraft will provide critical insights into the possibilities of electric systems in VTOL aircraft. Ultimately, we want to show the potential of large, advanced air mobility vehicles to perform utility missions for the U.S. military and transport passengers between cities.”

“Bringing innovative technology is a top priority for GE Aerospace,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “We are committed to developing hybrid electric propulsion systems that save fuel and optimize performance for the military and commercial applications. We are thrilled to build off our existing work with NASA and the Army to offer to power Sikorsky’s HEX aircraft and bolster the future of flight.”

The Sikorsky Innovations prototyping group will head up the HEX project under the direction of Igor Cherepinsky. Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system will control flight aboard the HEX aircraft. Developed and tested extensively over the past decade, the software, hardware and sensors that comprise the MATRIX system have demonstrated high flight reliability in low-altitude and obstacle-rich scenarios. During the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence 2022 exercise, a MATRIX-controlled Black Hawk helicopter without pilots or crew on board demonstrated optionally piloted resupply missions.

Why it matters: Lockheed Martin owned Sikorsky Helicopters is one of the pillars of the helicopter manufacturing industry and their technical expertise on hovercraft will be invaluable for producing an eVTOL prototype. By partnering with GE Aerospace, Sikorsky also gains a reputable partner for its propulsion platform. Expect to see more news as the HEX technology demonstrator is built up and test flown.

AutoFlight, an autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL developer based in China, has just broken the world record for the world’s furthest eVTOL flight at 155 miles. This breaks Joby Aviation’s previous record by just 1 mile.

On a single charge, AutoFlight’s electric aircraft was able to complete 155 miles of flight over a pre-defined flight track. During the test flight, like during Joby’s record-setting flight, the aircraft performed both vertical take-off and landing. Notably, this is the first aircraft of its size with a ‘strut design’ to be perform a high-range flight.

Like during Joby’s flight, the test flight was remotely piloted. According to representatives from AutoFlight, the flight works towards helping the aircraft earn certification with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by 2025.

AutoFlight’s president, Omer Bar-Yohay, said: “This flight is both a great celebratory milestone, and a testament to the team’s incredible effort and progress in testing and incrementally pushing the aircraft’s performance envelope. It’s a remarkable achievement that shows our aircraft’s capability, and we are excited to continue working towards our next goals all the way to EASA certification in 2025.”

AutoFlight has already established a manufacturing facility near Shanghai with the capacity to produce 1,000 aircraft per year. Operating since 2017, the company’s leadership includes executives from Eviation, the helicopter division of Airbus, and Uber Elevate.

Why it’s important: Although this record does not break Joby Aviation’s by a large margin, both AutoFlight and Joby now lead the market in eVTOL prototype development. The announcement by AutoFlight puts it on par with Joby as one of the top global eVTOL aircraft makers.

Related:

• AutoFlight Releases New In-Flight Footage of its Prosperity I Proof of Concept (June 2022)
• AutoFlight eVTOL Startup Secures $100M Investment in Series A Funding (November 2021)
• AutoFlight Selects its First Location in Europe (January 2022)
• Joby Completes 150-mile Flight, Begins Part 135 Certification Process (July 2021)

Source // AutoFlight, Revolution.aero

GPMS announced today at HeliExpo 2023 that the FAA has granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Foresight MX, the industry’s leading health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) on the Airbus AS350 B2 platform. Additionally, GPMS announced it has contracted with a HEMS operator to certify Foresight MX on the H145, and is working with Metro Aviation for certification on the EC145 platform.

Since the initial certification on the Bell 407GX series in 2019, GPMS has received STCs on various models, including the Bell 407 Analog, Bell 429, Bell 212, Bell 412 series, MD 530F, Airbus H125/AS350 B3, Mi-8/17/171 and the UH-60A.  GPMS teamed with Pathfinder Aviation, a utility operator in Alaska, to complete the AS350 B2 certification and to bring predictive HUMS to the nearly 1200 B2s flying today. 

Byus continues, “Many of our customers, like Pathfinder Aviation, utilize multiple models from multiple helicopter OEMs.  This historically has prevented them from seeing a one-stop, holistic view of the health of their entire fleet.  With our solution, our targeted Airbus certification expansion, and our collaboration with various OEMs, more operators are benefiting from having the power of Foresight.  Using it anywhere, any time, and on any web-enabled device.” 

According to Todd Powers, GPMS’s Vice President of Sales, the demand for HUMS is no longer a surprise.  “In the last year, we’ve more than doubled our Foresight installations and our backlog, and our CEO & cofounder, Dr. Eric Bechhoefer, has been awarded the HAI Salute to Excellence Award for Safety for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of rotorcraft safety and safety awareness.  We’ve moved from showing folks the benefits HUMS can bring to them, to fulfilling orders and assisting customers with their installations as quickly as possible.” 

Why it’s important: Foresight is similar to other commercial aviation prognostic and health monitoring dashboards, however the tool is uniquely optimized for use in helicopters. This type of technology could be applicable to aerial mobility aircraft in the future and would help predict maintenance activities before they’re required, increasing utilization and decreasing unscheduled maintenance downtime. GPMS is gaining valuable experience in the helicopter industry prior to aerial mobility aircraft operating at frequencies that will benefit from such integrations, however in the coming years expect a larger focus on analytics and eVTOL management dashboards, whether they’re from external horizontally integrated models or vertically integrated OEM’s.

Joby Aviation, major maker of an all-electric, passenger-carrying eVTOL has announced that it has begun final assembly of its first ‘company-conforming’ aircraft. This means this particular prototype was built in accordance with the manufacturing processes and quality management standards that will be used to mass-produce their eVTOL aircraft.

This latest announcement from Joby marks a significant step forward to the commercialization of Joby’s eVTOL, as well as a key step on the journey to achieve Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification required to begin passenger-carrying operations.

Having built the major aerostructures of the aircraft – the wing, tail, and fuselage – Joby is now beginning the process of fusing the structures together and installing the wiring, electronics, actuation, and propulsion systems on this pilot production aircraft. Joby expects the aircraft to begin flight testing of the aircraft in the first half of 2023.

“Beginning final assembly of our first company-conforming aircraft is a critical achievement for Joby and a landmark for the wider eVTOL industry,” said Didier Papadopoulos, Head of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

Notably, the construction of this aircraft is in accordance with Joby’s signature Quality Management System, which includes tracking and documentation of every part on the aircraft, configuration management of engineering drawings, environmental conditions during fabrication, and actions taken by manufacturing technicians. The Quality System is reviewed regularly by the FAA as part of the company’s preparation to receive a production certificate following the type certification of the aircraft.

Above: A prototype of Joby’s eVTOL in flight

Why it’s important: This aircraft from Joby is the first of its eVTOLs to be made with the same processes that will be used to mass-produce the aircraft. This is a major milestone for the company, as it sets the company up to begin producing their aircraft at scale for commercialization as soon as all necessary certifications are earned. Notably, Joby is one of the first eVTOL developers ever to reach this stage.

Source // Joby Aviation

Innovaero has just announced its strategic partnership with BAE Systems Australia for the design, development and launch of the STRIX Uncrewed VTOL Aerial System at Avalon 2023. This is the first collaborative venture for both companies in the Australian marketplace on emerging UAS capabilities for the defense sector.

STRIX is a significant Australian innovation, with Innovaero and BAE Systems Australia combining to design an entirely new concept.

STRIX is a hybrid-propulsion tandem wing, with multi-domain and multi-role UAS capability. The STRIX uncrewed air system (UAS), of which a prototype is already in development, could be used for a variety of missions including air to ground strike against hostile targets and persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). It could also act as a ‘loyal wingman’ for military helicopters.

Perth-based Innovaero is a 100% Australian-owned aeronautical product design, certification, and manufacturing company, with a track record of delivering successful outcomes for clients in Australia. Its team of world-class aeronautical specialists is globally recognised for its innovation, including its world leading aerial camera array solutions.

Innovaero Group Chief Executive Officer Simon Grosser said the design and development of STRIX demonstrated the company’s capabilities for the defense sector. “To witness the capability STRIX will provide to Defence, through partnering with BAE Systems Australia, is very exciting. STRIX has the potential payload capacity, range, speed, and advanced autonomy to provide real differential over current market offerings.” Mr Grosser said.

BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive Officer Ben Hudson paid tribute to the team at Innovaero for the work delivered to date on the STRIX model and prototype. “Innovaero is an amazing team of passionate Australians specialising in novel airborne systems,” Mr Hudson said. “STRIX is a real testament to the culture that Mike has developed at Innovaero.”

Why it’s important: STRIX is an entirely new UAS concept and a significant Australian innovation, the product of close collaboration between local aerospace SME Innovaero and Australia’s largest defense prime, BAE Systems Australia. The UAS has emerged as a critical defense capability of the future. STRIX is a stride forward into the next generation of autonomous hybrid-propulsion VTOL multi-role UAS delivering sustainable superiority on the in battlefield, an opening opportunities for these vehicles in logistics transportation.

Source // Innovaero Press Release

Air taxi infrastructure company Skyportz and property developer Pelligra announced today a partnership to explore jointly developing vertiport networks to attract air taxi and drone delivery services to Australia. Speaking at the Avalon Airshow, Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown said this partnership was a significant step forward for this emerging industry in Australia.

“We have strong policy support from the Federal Government and our air regulator, CASA to develop Advanced Air Mobility in Australia. The front runner electric air taxis will be  certified to operate in the next couple of years. We now need the vertiport sites and if  Australia can establish a launch vertiport network we will be in a position to attract the first  of these clean, green, quiet aircraft to Australian skies”. 

The Agreement builds on a previous partnership between Skyportz and other property owners such as Secure Parking which has hundreds of parking sites at urban hubs.

Pelligra is a third generation family business with an extensive portfolio of over 1200 projects in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and overseas. 

The next step in the partnership is to focus their resources on a region or city that actively wants to be a world leader in Advanced Air Mobility. Nowhere in the world has a vertiport network yet been established, but several European and American cities are well advanced in their planning. 

USA-based consultancy Nexa Capital has assessed the potential return on five use cases in cities such as Melbourne to be in excess of $5 billion in the first 20 years of operations, and the partnership between Skyportz and Pelligra aims to bridge that gap. 

“The key to this industry is breaking the nexus between aviation and existing airports. We need to develop a network of new vertiport sites if the industry is to reach its potential and Skyportz is readying the landscape to partner with infrastructure partners such as Pelligra”,  said Newton-Brown. 

Why it’s important: The partnership between Pelligra and Skyportz will afford each member more resources to continue exploration of development sites for vertiports in Australia and reflects an increasing focus of late on vertiport infrastructure. While aerial mobility aircraft remain a large portion of the focus for AAM developments, more and more attention is also being directed toward wide-scale development of vertiport and supporting infrastructure for AAM operations.