The X2, developed by a department of electric car company XPeng motors, has officially taken to the skies. The aircraft is designed for private ownership and personal use (similar to a traditional car) rather than only as a shared air taxi.

XPeng X2 on Display at Taobao Maker Festival 2021

XPeng motors has a vision of the future where auto manufacturers slowly transition from making internal combustion cars to electric cars and eventually all the way to electric flying cars. Notably, American companies like GM and Goodyear have taken a similar approach, designing concepts for both electric aircraft and their components.

Founded in 2014, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng went public on the New York Stock Exchange last summer, raising $1.5 billion. It’s P7 long range sedan and G3 electric SUV have proven its ability to create successful electric vehicles, and the company signaling an emphatic vision for the future by releasing the concept for the X2 so soon after its automobile offerings.

The X2 is an especially sleek looking aircraft, whose lines echo the appearance of Tesla’s Cybertruck or the DMC Delorean. This design gives more of a car feel than an aircraft aesthetic, making the vehicle more approachable and inviting to those who are new to the idea of personal flight. The interior is especially user experience oriented, showing off a control panel and dashboard that look very similar to many electric ground-based cars on the market today.

Passenger/Pilot experience of the XPeng X2

The X2 will be able to carry two passengers with semi-autonomous and fully autonomous capabilities, will have a range of about 50 miles per charge at speeds up to 80mph, and will even be able to fit inside a single traditional parking space. The aircraft follows the X1, a single-passenger prototype that has already taken over 10,000 test flights.

Watch an announcement video of the X2 posted by XPeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng:

Why it’s important: As the world of eVTOL aircraft grows, so do the different kinds of companies developing air vehicles, and the various market segments for electric aircraft become more clear. While companies like Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, Vertical Aerospace, and Volocopter are focusing more on shared air taxi approaches, companies like XPeng and India’s ePlane may focus on privately-owned, smaller capacity aircraft. Also important to note is that successful car companies (especially in EVs) like XPeng and GM are starting to develop aerial mobility departments, which may mean that an increasing number of car companies in the world will start using their long-time manufacturing and safety development expertise to make eVTOL aircraft.

Intended for use as an in-city electric air taxi, ePlane’s ‘e200’ will have a 200km range with two passenger capacity. The aircraft is already being prototyped, and is expected to hit the skies by early 2023.

Rendering of the e200 in flight. The aircraft features four fans for vertical lift along the sides, and two at the back for forward thrust.

According to co-founder Pranjal Mehta, the design differs from many existing eVTOL concepts in that it prioritizes compact vehicle size as a key design cornerstone. The company intends for its the e200 to provide true door-to-door air taxi services without needing a vertiport or landing pad, and so is designed to land and in a space the size of two standard auto parking spaces.

Said Mehta, “We’re trying to build a compact taxi to enable door-to-door travel in cities. This is sort of a unique mission because most of the other companies – which are doing fantastic work – are building very large vehicles that will require a vertiport or helipad.”

ePlane expects to target markets similar to Volocopter and Ehang, but adds two fixed wings for increased range and a quicker path to certification. This is most similar to Wisk’s Cora aircraft, but ePlane considers its key advantage over Cora will be its compact size. Additionally, the e200 will initially target markets in India, in order to reduce congestion, rather than initialize markets in the U.S.

“We wanted to see how we can avoid tilting, given that tilting comes with a certification challenge, and yet build something that is not too big because in India, we have a large population density. Space is a huge constraint.” said Mehta.

ePlane was co-founded by Professor Satya Chakravarthy, and his student at the Indian Institute of Technology (ITT) in 2019. The University is working alongside the two partners to set up the company, which has recently tripled its workforce, and is currently working on building a 75 percent scale prototype which will start testing in the next few months. Satya in particular has over 24 years in aerospace expertise, having set up a $30 million combustion research center utilized by companies like GE, before moving on to focus on to electric aircraft.

“Even though we’re building out of India, we’re not creating something which is a copy of what other companies are doing in the western part of the world. People usually expect us to build a cheaper version, but what we’re actually doing is going further by innovating on the technology and building something that suits the market”, commented Mehta.

Why it’s important: As the concept of eVTOL aircraft is developing, companies the world over are deriving from each other’s ideas to develop aircraft that will fit their own markets. With the e200’s unique compact size and its specific geographic market in India, the company is well set up to find great success at launch. As the air taxi industry develops, expect to see companies like ePlane continue to emerge and succeed in commercial use during the early and mid 2020s.

Source // eVTOL Insights, ePlane

KittyHawk, famously funded in part by Google co-founder Larry Page, has officially received airworthiness approval for its ‘Heaviside’ eVTOL from the U.S Air Force. This means that the KittyHawk Heaviside prototype is no longer only experimental, and can be used for revenue-generating flight tests for the U.S military.

KittHawk’s ‘Heaviside’ eVTOL in flight

The Heaviside is an expertly engineered eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, featuring 8 tilting rotors that power both vertical and forward flight. The Heaviside for now is single-passenger aircraft, and will feature autonomous and remote piloting capabilities that will allow it to fly up to 100 miles on a single charge, at speeds up to 180mph. Noise emissions are 100 times quieter than a traditional helicopter, and the aircraft can take in only 30 foot by 30 foot area.

With the new airworthiness approval from the U.S Air Force, KittyHawk will be able to fly paid technology development missions for the U.S military. These missions will test new technologies and operational concepts that will expand KittyHawk’s offerings to both the world and the Air Force itself. For example, one potential application stated by Colonel Nathan Diller is the use of the Heaviside to perform communications relays that could help transmit data in areas without infrastructure. The current version of the approval is for remote operations, although the Air Force is also interested in the Heaviside’s use in personel transport.

KittyHawk is a well-funded and highly established eVTOL developer, considering that the Heaviside is not its only successful aircraft. KittyHawk was also maker of the Cora passenger eVTOL. The Cora aircraft is well on its way to commercial operations, having recently been taken over by Wisk, a new joint venture between Boeing and KittyHawk.

Why it’s important: KittyHawk is now the third eVTOL aircraft to receive an airworthiness approval certification from the U.S Air Force. Other aircraft are Beta Technologies’ Alia, the Joby Aviation eVTOL, and the Lift Hexa. Although the military is also interested in larger aircraft, it is certainly interested in 1 to 2 passenger aircraft like the Heaviside. Awarding Heaviside airworthiness approval marks the it as one of the furthest-progressed eVTOL aircraft in development.

Source // Janes, KittyHawk Aerospace

Related:

• Beta Technologies is Approved for Air Force Manned Flight Tests (May 2021)
• Joby Aviation Receives Airworthiness Approval from U.S Military (December 2020)
• Kitty Hawk’s New Project Heaviside Prioritizes Noise Reduction (October 2019)

The Klein Vision AirCar, which can transform from road car to aircraft in under 3 minutes, has successfully completed a 35-minute flight between two cities in Slovakia. After landing, the aircraft transitioned from flight mode to road mode and drove to the capital’s city center.

The Klein Vision AirCar Prototype in flight

The test flight covered 60 miles between Nitra to the capital of Bratislava in 35 minutes, with a cruising speed of approximately 118 mph.

This prototype, the AirCar Prototype 1, has 160 horsepower engine, but the next version will feature a 300hp engine to hit speeds of up 186 mph in cruise. Later versions will also increase from 2 seats to 4 seats. The vehicle can transform from air to road mode by folding its wings into its fuselage/frame in under 3 minutes, all at the touch of a button.

The Klein Vision AirCar in road mode, being driven by CEO Stefan Klein.

Klein Vision cites this test flight as important step toward creating the production version of the aircraft. Said CEO Stefan Klein, “This flight starts a new era of dual transportation vehicles. It opens a new category of transportation and returns the freedom originally attributed to cars back to the individual.” Co-founder Anton Zajac added, “AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept, it has turned science fiction into a reality.”

The next version of the aircraft, the pre-production model, will be EASA CS-23 aircraft certification with an M1 road permit. Watch the video of the recent test flight below:

Why it’s important: The Klein Vision AirCar represents an exciting step forward for the world of personal, roadable Aircraft. Although Klein Vision is not the first company to design and prototype a roadable aircraft, it is one of the first to complete such a notable and public test flight. Other designs include AeroMobil’s STOL, the PAL-V Liberty, the Samson SwitchBlade, and the Terrafugia transition. Of these, PAL-V and Terrafugia in particular have made significant process, with the PAL-V Liberty already obtaining road certification and the Terrafugia Transition obtaining FAA certification.

Related:

• Klein Vision’s AirCar Successfully Completes Flight Tests (October 2020)
• Pal-V Liberty Hits the Road in Europe
• Terrafugia’s Transition Receives FAA Certification

RotorX, the world’s biggest 2-seater helicopter kit manufacturer, is now turning towards designing an eVTOL that will seat up to 6 passengers, and be able to auto-rotate.

Rendering of Rotor X’s concept eVTOL in flight

While the new eVTOL concept from RotorX does utilize IDEP (integrated distributed electric propulsion), it features far less rotors than many existing eVTOL concepts in development, making the rotors larger in order to create the necessary lift. Although many eVTOL concepts utilize numerous rotors for redundancy and fine control of lift, RotorX claims its larger rotors will allow for “dramatically” more efficient hover and lower cost operations, as well as the option for auto-rotation. Jaunt Air Mobility, another increasingly successful electric air taxi company, uses the same concept in its eVTOL.

With this design, Rotor X estimates that its eVTOL would be able to seat up to 6 passengers plus 2 pilots, or up to 1600lbs of cargo, for a maximum range of 230 miles at cruise speeds of 140mph. With its larger rotor design, Rotor X claims the aircraft could hover for up to 45 minutes on a single charge if necessary.

Rotor X’s ‘RX eTransporter’ concept on the landing pad

For over 53 years, Rotor X has been the designer and manufacturer of leading helicopter kits, including its well-known 2-seater Phoenix A600 Turbo helicopter kit. Rotor X claims that it has been developing technology for this large scale eVTOL for over 10 years, with many heavy lift multi-rotor prototypes completed by partner company Advanced Tactics Inc (AT). AT’s 8-engine “Black Knight Transformer” flew in 2014, and its gross takeoff weight was in excess of 4,500 pounds.

Rotor X envisions that the RX eTransporter will be used in air taxi operations, package delivery, search and rescue, personnel recovery, and MEDEVAC operations. According to RotorX, the aircraft is expected to undergo FAA airworthiness testing as early as next year.

Watch AT’s 8 engine multi-rotor heavy lift prototype below:

Why it’s important: While Rotor X’s eVTOL design is different from that of many eVTOL air taxis in development today, the company has a long standing history of success in design and manufacturing of rotorcraft, and seems to have a clear idea of where the RX eTransporter could fit into the eVTOL market. Although designs like Vertical Aerospace’s VA-X4, Joby Aviation air taxi, or Beta Technologies’ Alia may enter the market first, Rotor X’s design presents some unique technical advantages that come with larger rotors, and so may find itself a solid spot in the diverse marketplace for vertical aircraft as it develops.

Source // News Atlas, RotorX

Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (“Blade”, NASDAQ: BLDE) and Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, Inc. (“Eve”), a subsidiary of Embraer S.A. (“Embraer,” NYSE: ERJ), have announced an arrangement for Eve to provide Blade up to 60,000 hours of flight time per year on its EVA (electric vertical aircraft) beginning in 2026 for use in Southern Florida and West Coast markets.

Eve’s concept aircraft. Proof of concept prototype took flight in October 2020.

This marks Eve’s second partnership with an aerial mobility operator, having recently partnered with Ascent Urban Air Mobility for markets in the Asia-Pacific region. The aircraft’s design is impressive, with 8 vertical lift propellers, 2 pusher propellers, and room for 4 passengers plus a pilot. Dedicated thought was given to the aircraft’s aerodynamic design and cabin, giving it a fixed wing to increase range in forward flight, and an accessible and spacious cabin for passengers.

As an organization, Eve offers both its aircraft,and its Urban Air Traffic Management system, which recently reached a new milestone in its collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority to develop a scalable environment needed to host UAM flights.

Eve plans to deploy, together with local partners, up to 60 aircraft for Blade’s use throughout the United States beginning in 2026. Blade will pay for flight time utilized on Eve’s aircraft, which will be made available by Eve and other third-parties. The deployment of Eve aircraft across the Blade network is subject to the parties entering into definitive final agreements.

Said Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade: “Blade is pleased to partner with Eve, leveraging Embraer’s deep aerospace expertise to provide Blade with quiet, zero-carbon, electric aircraft. Eve’s aircraft provides ideal operating economics for Blade’s shorter distance routes, adding to our three other recently announced EVA partnerships which, together, can optimize service for Blade’s wide variety of mission profiles and regional hubs.”

Said  Andre Stein, President & CEO of Eve: “Blade is aligned with our mission as they have created a platform that provides the user seamless access to Urban Air Mobility, and now with Eve to provide an experience that is quiet and without emissions. The company’s platform will be instrumental in deploying our aircraft in key markets in South Florida and the West Coast of the United States. This partnership with Blade is the next step in unlocking the future of mobility in these key areas and marks an exciting time for both companies.”

Why it’s important: The partnership with Eve represents BLADE’s third agreement with an eVTOL development and manufacturing partner, and its fourth with electric aircraft developers overall. Other notable partners for aircraft include Beta Technologies, MagniX, and Wisk. With this announcement, BLADE adds Embraer, an aircraft developer with over 50 years of experience, to its upcoming repertoire of aircraft providers. Through these partnerships, BLADE positions itself as a foremost service provider for the rapidly approaching electric aerial mobility market.

Source // BLADE Air Mobility

Related:

• Blade Partners with magniX for Electrification of Lima Cessnas
• Wisk and BLADE Partner for Key UAM Routes
• BLADE Announces Deal for Operator’s Order of up to 20 BETA EVA’s
• EmbraerX’s Eve Urban Air Mobility Partners with Ascent for Asia-Pacific Market Entry

Eve, the eVTOL project of the EmbraerX urban air mobility initiative, has officially announced a partnership with Ascent, an urban air mobility ecosystem developer, to grow aerial mobility networks in the Asia-Pacific markets.

The EmbraerX ‘Eve’ eVTOL aircraft, which is already being prototyped.

EmbraerX initially announced its unnamed eVTOL project at Uber Elevate 2018, and has since dubbed the aircraft and the program, ‘Eve’. The aircraft’s design is impressive and professional, with 8 vertical lift propellers, 2 pusher propellers, and room for 4 passengers plus a pilot. Dedicated thought was given to the aircraft’s aerodynamic design and cabin, giving it a fixed wing to increase range in forward flight, and an accessible and spacious cabin for passengers.

Ascent meanwhile is a dedicated developer of of aerial mobility technology on the infrastructure and customer side, already offering affordable by-the-seat bookings and operations management for traditional helicopter air taxis. Ascent’s goal is to use new technologies to make cities more connected by moving people seamlessly by air, using ‘helicopters today and eVTOLs in the future’. With a similar business model to BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Ascent recently launched helicopter air taxi services both in Thailand and in the Philippines.

Ascent Founders Darren Tng and Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff pose with one of the helicopters in their fleet.

According to a recent press release, the partnership between Ascent and Eve aims the progressive integration of Eve eVTOLs into Ascent’s growing technology platform, which offers air taxi, cargo and air medical services in the Asia-Pacific region. Ascent currently maintains a database of air operator partners that are dedicated to UAM operations throughout Thailand and the Philippines, and is set to expand its presence in the region. Additionally, both EmbraerX and Ascent expect that Eve´s Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) services will be fully integrated into Ascent technology to ensure secure and scalable operations.

Said Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, Founder & CEO of Ascent, “This partnership with Eve is a leap forward for Ascent toward achieving our ambition to democratize sustainable urban air mobility. Joining forces with Eve, and by extension counting with the active support from the Embraer Group, will enable us to accelerate our development for a larger impact, secure the entry of market-fit all-electric aircraft, and  provide safe and secure operations at scale thanks to urban air traffic management integration”

Said Andre Stein, President & CEO of Eve Urban Air Mobility, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with Ascent as it aligns with our strategy to develop the urban air mobility ecosystem through collaborative efforts and to be a truly global player. Armed with Ascent’s data and platform, we will be well positioned to enter into the Asia Pacific market. On our end, we are committed to supporting Ascent’s growth and its ambition to democratize air mobility.”

Why it’s important: This announcement is yet another representation of the industry’s speedy shift of focus from vehicle creation to commercial operations development. As eVTOL developers the world over are moving closer to certifying their aircraft for commercial flight, some of these companies, such as EmbraerX, are turning to local operators and brokers like BLADE and Ascent to assist in market entry. As the world approaches a full launch of aerial mobility services, keep an eye on these evolving companies as they continue to develop business structures and partnerships that will enable success.

Source // EmbraerX, Ascent

Related: 

• Ascent Urban Air Mobility Announces Launch in Thailand
• Joby Aviation Announces Infrastructure Partnership With Largest Mobility Hub Operator in North America
• BLADE Announces Deal for Operator’s Order of up to 20 BETA EVA’s

Airflow, the developer of one of the world’s first eSTOLs (hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing aircraft), has officially inked a deal with Anchorage-based regional airline Ravn for 50 of its aircraft.

Initial iteration concept for Airflow’s hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft

Airflow bills itself as an ‘aerial logistics’ company that’s developing a unique hybrid-electric aircraft for short takeoff and landing missions. Founded in 2019 by five former members of the Airbus Vahana, Airflow’s mission is to transform regional mobility of both passengers and cargo through innovative distributed electric propulsion technology that will enable quiet, efficient, and economical air transport. To this end, its aircraft be able to take-off and land within 300 feet, and offer a hybrid-electric range of up to 500, and carry up to 2,000lbs of payload.

According to a recent press release by Airflow, Ravn Alaska’s order for 50 aircraft will bring the total order book for Airflow’s aircraft up to $200 million. For Ravn, goals for the aircraft will be to expand which destinations they can fly to, improve route economics, and lower carbon emissions. Ravn plans to introduce Airflow aircraft to its fleet by 2025.

Said Rob McKinney, CEO of Ravn Alaska, “As a regional operator, we are committed to serving the many large and small communities of Alaska… With Airflow, we benefit from the new capabilities the aircraft offers that open up new and different destinations, the constantly improving efficiencies of electrification, and alignment between our fleet and the rising demands of our customers to travel with the smallest carbon footprint possible.”

Said Marc Ausman, CEO and cofounder of Airflow, At Airflow, we’re partnering with companies that seek to add new aircraft with new capabilities to their fleets that are flexible, cost-effective, and carbon-neutral. The Airflow team has designed, built, and flown new aircraft on rapid timescales together before, and now we’re applying those learnings to an aircraft that will improve operating economics for airlines and contribute positively to reducing aviation’s carbon impact.”

Side view of Airflow’s concept aircraft

Why it’s important: As aerial mobility develops, it is becoming clear that there are many different segments of the industry that can be served by the new distributed electric propulsion technology. While eVTOLs make sense for urban applications, eSTOLs like Airflow’s will also be an excellent solution for increasing route flexibility, improving economics, and reducing carbon emissions on regional transportation missions. In the future, watch for developments of short take-off and landing aircraft as they enter into service for regional transport, and pave the way for even more kinds of electric aircraft to hit the skies.

Related:

• TransportUP’s Podcast Episode With Airflow CEO and Co-founder Marc Ausman
• Electra Unveils First Product Configuration
• Airflow Launches an Electric STOL

EHang, a long time leader in aerial mobility development, has now added another vehicle to its line-up: The VT-30 AAV, which, unlike EHang’s existing EHang 216, features a fixed-wing for longer distance inter-city travel.

Prototype of EHang’s VT-30

With a hybrid structure, VT-30 is designed to travel a distance of up to 300km with a designed flight time of up to 100 minutes and is designed as a safe, convenient, efficient, eco-friendly and intelligent air mobility solution for inter-city travel. As EHang’s long-range flagship product, VT-30 will complement EH216, a product focusing on intra-city air mobility, to further expand EHang’s air transportation network and expland its overall future urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.

VT-30 has a streamlined fuselage with a combined lifting rudder surface at the tail. Equipped with eight propellers on each side, it has a pair of fixed wings, and a propelling propeller at the rear, which are designed to achieve a maximum balance of hybrid lift and push. The distinctive design enables VT-30 to enjoy the advantage of both vertical and taxi take-off / landing modes, while satisfying the need for longer distance and flight time. Using these modes, it can either minimize or completely eliminate runway needs for take-off and landing versus traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Moreover, the tri-redundancy fly-by-wire control system can be flexibly altered into multiple modes, implying a much higher safety level for the aircraft.

The VT-30 Prototype on an EHang take-off/landing pad

VT-30 is geared towards inter-city travel between city clusters (such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Yangtze River Delta, Bohai Rim, etc.), as it is able to carry two passengers from one city to another. VT-30 boasts the merits of eco-friendliness, zero emissions, and low noise, fully aligned with EHang’s principle of green travel. Compared with conventional inter-city transportation modes, VT-30 is expected to provide more efficient, environmentally friendly and low-cost solutions to urban dwellers as well as expanding the capacity of existing UAM services.

So far, VT-30 has conducted vertical take-off and landing, power system and other tests. Moving forward, EHang will continue to conduct various tests and optimizations under different environment conditions, while continuously improving AAV safety and stability, with the goal of accelerating long-distance AAVs to be used in various scenarios such as air commuting, aerial sightseeing, and aerial logistics.

“Our passenger-grade AAV EH216 is already fully equipped to travel in the cities with its lightweighted and streamlined structure, and the launch of the VT-30 provides a powerful complement to the inter-city air traffic network by meeting needs for covering longer distance,” said Mr. Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, “Moving forward, these two product series will be used as core development for a service-oriented operations strategy to improve the safety, duration and capacity for carrying both passengers and goods. We will work continuously to obtain regulatory certification for our various AAV products, including the VT-30, and provide a more convenient and efficient public urban air mobility operational services.”

VT-30 Prototype Hovering Above its landing pad

Why it’s important: With this latest product launch, EHang joins the ranks of of aerial mobility companies that are offering longer range, intercity aircraft. Prior to this release, EHang had been leading the market for non-winged AAV’s (autonomous aerial vehicles), having already launched in several cities around the globe with the EH216, and with this new aircraft in combination with its proven technology, EHang becomes an even greater key presence on the global market.

Also notably, EHang has chosen an increasingly popular ‘Lift and Push’ design, which features lifting propellers on struts along the aircraft’s sides. Other increasingly successful companies featuring this design include the recently released VoloConnect, Wisk’s Cora, and the Beta Technologies Alia. Significantly successful aircraft featuring tilt-rotors, another prominent design, are the Joby Aviation eVTOL, and the Vertical Aerospace VA-1X.

Source // EHang

Related:

• EHang’s Pilot City Initiative Expands to Zaragoza, Spain
• EHang 216 AAV Completes First Trial Flights in Beijing and over South China Sea
• Volocopter Unveils New Medium Range eVTOL: The VoloConnect

As it nears ever closer to developing the electric flying car races of the future, Airspeeder has announced that unmanned races of its MK3 prototype vehicle will take place later this year.

Airspeeder’s MK4 electric ‘flying race car’.

For several years, Airspeeder has had a vision for creating the ‘Formula 1 of the skies’; seeking to create a high-performance eVTOL aircraft accompanied with a series of grand prix events to bring on the new age of vertical flight and aerial mobility. According to the company, it hopes that their vehicles will do for eVTOL what auto racing did for the auto industry – push the boundries of engineering in efficiency, performance, and safety to their highest levels, and add excitement to the world of vertical flight to the public eye.

Alauda is now working on finalizing the MK4, the 4th and highest performance version of its single-seater eVTOL air vehicle. Billed as, ‘The world’s first electric flying race car’ The MK4 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds (faster than a Tesla Model S or Lamborghini Huracan) and fly at race speeds of 160 km/h at up to 20 minutes per battery (Batteries will be quickly swappable in rapid pit stops).

The initial unmanned remotely-piloted races later this year will set the stage and provide format for the manned races that are scheduled to begin in 2022. Although these races will feature the MK3 rather than the MK4, the MK3 still boasts incredibly impressive stats. Empty weights of aircraft are 287 lbs, and race speeds will still reach over 120km/h at heights between 40 and 200ft above ground. Races will take place in remote locations with up to 10 Airspeeders flying in close proximity, protected by Acronis’ ‘digital force fields‘ that will prevent collisions. Racers can pass around or under other Airspeeders for what will likely be very thrilling aerial action.

Watch the original reveal video for the MK3 racer below:

Why it’s important: As the age of eVTOL aerial mobility draws nearer, Airspeeder’s grand prix series will give this technology a chance to be pushed to the limit, in order to both experiment with what eVTOL can do, and to increase performance statistics for these aircraft. By utilizing effective software to keep pilots safe, Airspeeder will also both increase excitement about this technology and prove its safety. With unmanned races coming soon, the stage is set for a successful and exciting future of aerial racing.

After a somewhat turbulent history, Eviation’s Alice is once again on track to begin manufacturing of its all-electric, 9 passenger fixed-wing aircraft.

The Eviation Alice prototype in its hangar

Designed specifically for regional mobility, with a range of up to 440NM and a cruise speed of 220kts, Eviation’s Alice features an extremely sleek design, giving off a high impression of luxury for such a small aircraft. According to Co-Founder and CEO of Eviation, the company believes that ‘electrification and democratization’ represents the future of passenger aviation. Its claimed mission is to ‘change the way people travel regionally through affordable, sustainable aviation.”

Eviation has now taken a significant step forward by partnering with electric propulsion specialist MagniX for its electric propulsion system. For several years now, MagniX has been working hard to develop advanced propulsion units for electric aviation, and is responsible for creating one of the world’s largest flying electric aircraft, the modified ‘eBeaver’ seaplane, which was part of a deal with Canada’s Harbour Air to electrify its entire fleet within the next 10-15 years. Although MagniX has retrofitted aircraft with its electric propulsion systems before, the Eviation Alice will be its first aircraft that was designed to be electric from the ground up.

MagniX’s EPUs (electric propulsion systems) are well flight-proven with many test flights in existing aircraft, and are on a path to FAA Part 33 certification in 2022. The EPUs offer an exceptional level of redundancy and reliability with consistent performance, as well as high levels of energy-use efficiency and low sound emissions profiles.

Interior of the Eviation Alice

Said Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay, “The magniX delivery is one of the key milestones in getting emission free, low-cost, all-electric aviation off the ground with the first flight of Alice. We’re confident the system will propel us to bringing Alice to market and delivering a sustainable, scalable mobility solution that will revolutionize passenger and cargo flights.”

Commented Roei Ganzarski, CEO of magniX, “The Alice is the epitome of the future of air transportation. All-electric by design, taking advantage of light-weight powerful and reliable propulsion systems. Together, we will enable a great flying experience – zero emissions, quieter, lower cost, all from and to airports closer to more communities. ”

Why it’s important: MagniX’s work represents the next big step in getting electric aircraft into the skies. Starting out by retrofitting existing ICE aircraft with electric propulsion, the company is now moving up to making systems for aircraft that are electric from the ground up. As MagniX evolves into creating electric propulsion for new kinds of aircraft, it is likely that many eVTOL companies may turn to the company for their own electric propulsion systems. In addition, the success of MagniX’s propulsion systems in the skies with Alice will set an industry precedent for other electric aircraft certification, including eVTOLs.

Source // PR Newswire

Beta Technologies, an innovative Vermont-based eVTOL developer, has recently become one of the first eVTOL companies to ever receive a MFR (Military Flight Release) from the United States Air Force. This marks one of the first ever such approvals for a vertical flight electric aircraft.

Capable of both fixed-wing forward flight and vertical take-off, BETA’s ‘Alia’ aircraft weighs in at arounnd 7,000lbs, and can carry at least four passengers plus a pilot. The aircraft will remain semi-autonomous during initial operations, but will have full-autonomous capabilities. BETA expects the Alia to go into operation within the next five years, and has already inked partnerships with both BLADE Urban Air Mobility and UPS.

The MFR from the Air Force will now allow Beta to perform flight tests in collaboration with the Air Force with a pilot on board. For now, the MFR is allowing these tests only for fixed-wing forward flight mode of the aircraft, rather than for vertical flights as well. After an early series of tethered hover tests, Beta has been flying Alia with its overhead lifting propellers removed while it tests the aircraft’s fixed-wing handling abilities and characteristics. The company plans to return to hover testing in the near future, and expects its work with the Air Force to eventually fully test Alia’s vertical capabilities and complete flight envelope as well.

With this announcement, Beta becomes competitive with Joby Aviation, which was the very first eVTOL aircraft to receive an MFR through the U.S Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative. Both companies have received approval from the FAA for piloted flight tests, but Joby only received it from the USAF for unmanned flight tests, whereas Beta’s are now for piloted tests.

The Beta Technologies’ Alia prototype

Why it’s important: Beta Technologies has now inked deals with both UPS and BLADE urban air mobility. Now that is has approval for manned flight tests from the Air Force, it will become one of the first US-based eVTOLs to fly manned. Although Joby has recently taken much of the limelight through its partnerships with Agility Prime and massive fundraising, Beta has well earned a spot competing with it, and should be watched closely as it develops further.

After recently unveiling its 7-seater eVTOL jet, Lilium has made news again by selecting Munich and Nuremberg to host the company’s initial air taxi hubs.

Discussions for air taxi infrastructure have been in the making for several years. Companies like Volocopter have already been laying down this groundwork in Singapore and Frankfurt, while EHang has started setting up several hubs in China and even begun tourism operations.

Rendering of a Lilium air taxi hub integrated with a German airport

Lilium has begun discussions for an air taxi hub in Florida in the U.S, but also has its attention strongly on European plans. The company hopes to establish its main aerial mobility network in Europe, starting by partnering with existing airports in Munich and Nuremberg. On April 19th, a press release by the company stated that the two hubs in Munich and Nuremberg will enable it to offer air connections between different locations across all of southern Germany.

Said Daniel Wiegand, Lilium’s CEO: “We are doing everything we can to bring our all-electric and ultra-quiet airline service to our home base of Bavaria, as well as to link Munich and Nuremberg even more closely with neighbouring cities and regions. We also want to offer a service for everyone in the Southern German region, with attractive prices and great time savings for all travellers. Munich and Nuremberg airports are key mobility hubs that we will connect with large and small cities throughout the region over time.”

The company’s ultimate goal is to establish aerial mobility networks in highly trafficked cities throughout the globe. In order to do, it has also partnered with Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial to build at least 10 vertiports in Florida and abroad.

Why it’s important: Lilium is fast becoming one of the world’s leading developers of both innovative eVTOL aircraft and the infrastructure that they will require. Joining companies like Volocopter, Joby Aviation, and EHang, Lilium is slowly transitioning its attention from aircraft development to roll-out plans, signaling the quickening growth and forward progress of the air taxi industry.

eVTOL developer Orca Aerospace and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to research and develop Orca’s new eVTOL aircraft. Both organizations believe this aircraft will offer more affordable and sustainable flight options for emergency medical response and passenger transportation.

Although it also has potential as an air taxi, Orca’s eVTOL aircraft concept is designed specifically for airborne medical services and patient transportation. Orca envisions that its aircraft will complement existing air and ground based EMS in order to provide quicker response times, reduce inefficiencies, and improve economics of operations.

Orca’s aircraft will be entirely electric, featuring 4 vertical lift propellers on its tail, 2 tilt-rotor propellers for VTOL and forward flight on its nose, and 1 rear pusher propeller purely for forward flight. In total, the aircraft can transport up to 3 pax: 1 pilot, 1 patient on a stretcher, and 1 emergency medical service provider. Cruise speeds will be around 296 km/h, while range is estimated at 110-130 km. In accordance with the EASA SC-VTOL, the propulsion system is sized to overcome single engine failures, in both hover and cruise modes.

According to the NLR, the collaboration with Orca will contribute to its goals for more sustainable aviation in the Netherlands. With over 100 years of experience within the European aerospace industry, the NLR will assist Orca with the development of operational concepts on eVTOL vehicles, supporting qualification, certification, and establishing and supporting a mutual R&D network for critical technologies.

Why it’s important: The Orca aircraft is well under development in the Netherlands, and features compliance with the EU’s most recent standards for eVTOL safety. In some aspects, the Orca even exceeds GA aircraft in safety capabilities. While many eVTOL concepts are being developed the world over, Orca’s significant progress, its collaboration with the NLR, and its focus on emergency medical response applications will all give it an edge in its market sectors as eVTOL aircraft begin to move into production.

Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recently released the latest version of its urban air mobility (UAM) roadmap, which now includes the addition of commercialization plans. The document outlines the country’s roll-out plan for aerial mobility services over the next few decades.

Korea’s example of the kind of aircraft it expects to soon see in its skies.

The new roadmap document divides the market’s timeline into three phases: 2025 to 2029, 2030 to 2034, and 2035 and later. The goal of the first phase is to reach a flight distance of 100 km for a single trip, with a pilot aboard. The second phase aims to double that distance to 200 km, replace the pilot with remotely controlled operations, and double average flight speed from 150 to 300 km/h. The third phase expects to reach a 300 km trip length, based on Korea’s predictions for increases in battery capacity and fuselage weight reduction in aircraft.

The ministry predicts that by 2035, at least 50 vertiports will be in operation serving around 200 flight routes in Korea, and average passenger fare per kilometer will be around 1700 won ($1.50 USD).

The announcement comes not long after SK Telecom, a major South Korean telecommunications company, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Airports Corp and the Korea Transport Institute to begin building and testing networks for aerial mobility in necessary areas. Additionally, global industry leader EHang recently demonstrated the capabilities of its 216 autonomous passenger eVTOL in the skies above Seoul. 

The EHang 216 autonomous passenger vehicle flies a demonstration flight over Seoul, South Korea.

Why it’s important: Around the world, aerial mobility companies are beginning to move out of the ideation and design phase and into the implementation phase. Discussions have begun to shift from certification to infrastructure, connectivity, effectualness, and customer experience. This latest roadmap from the Korean government represents an effective strategy to move Korea toward aerial mobility commercialization.