Category: Events
World’s largest hydrogen fuel cell aircraft takes flight
Universal Hydrogen’s hydrogen electric DeHaviland Canada DHC8-Q300 (Dash 8) aircraft has just completed its first flight, powered by magniX electric propulsion units. Universal Hydrogen flew its 40-passenger regional airliner, nicknamed Lightning McClean, using hydrogen fuel cell propulsion at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) for 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 3,500 MSL. The flight, conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate,...

World’s largest hydrogen fuel cell aircraft takes flight

Universal Hydrogen’s hydrogen electric DeHaviland Canada DHC8-Q300 (Dash 8) aircraft has just completed its first flight, powered by magniX electric propulsion units.

Universal Hydrogen flew its 40-passenger regional airliner, nicknamed Lightning McClean, using hydrogen fuel cell propulsion at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) for 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 3,500 MSL. The flight, conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate, was the first in a two-year flight test campaign expected to culminate in 2025 with entry into passenger service of ATR 72 regional aircraft converted to run on hydrogen.
Representatives from Connect Airlines and Amelia, the US and European launch customers for the hydrogen airplanes, were on hand to witness the historic flight. Universal Hydrogen has a rapidly growing order book, today totaling 247 aircraft conversions from 16 customers worldwide, totaling over $1 billion in conversions backlog and over $2 billion in fuel services over the first ten years of operation.

“Today will go down in the history books as the true start to the decarbonization of the global airline industry and we at Connect Airlines are extremely proud of the role that we, as the first US operator, will play in leading the way with Universal Hydrogen,” said John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines. Connect, which will begin regional turboprop service this spring, has placed a first-position US order with Universal Hydrogen to convert 75 ATR 72-600 regional airplanes to hydrogen powertrains with purchase rights for 25 additional aircraft conversions. Deliveries will start in 2025. “We have committed to being North America’s first zero-emission airline and this historic flight, taking hydrogen, which can be made with nothing but sunshine and emitting only water, is a key milestone on our journey,” continued Thomas.
“With this technology, and the improvement of government positive regulations I am confident that we can turn the tide of public sentiment and once again make aviation a shining beacon of technological optimism,” added Alain Regourd, President of Amelia.
In this first test flight, one of the airplane’s turbine engines was replaced with Universal Hydrogen’s fuel cell-electric, megawatt-class powertrain. The other remained a conventional engine for safety of flight. The flight was piloted by Alex Kroll, an experienced former U.S. Air Force test pilot and the company’s chief test pilot. “During the second circuit over the airport, we were comfortable with the performance of the hydrogen powertrain, so we were able to throttle back the fossil fuel turbine engine to demonstrate cruise principally on hydrogen power,” said Kroll. “The airplane handled beautifully, and the noise and vibrations from the fuel cell powertrain are significantly lower than from the conventional turbine engine.”
The company’s powertrain is built around Plug Power’s ProGen family of fuel cells specially modified for aviation use. One of the unique aspects of the design is that the powertrain does not use a battery—the fuel cells drive the electric motor directly—drastically reducing weight and cost. The motor, a modified magni650 electric propulsion unit, and power electronics were supplied by Everett-based magniX. Seattle-based AeroTEC assisted with engineering efforts, including design of the modified nacelle structure, aircraft systems design and integration, as well as aircraft modifications and installation of the Universal Hydrogen powertrain onto the flight test aircraft, accomplished in less than 12 months.
Related:
- Universal Hydrogen’s DHC 8-300 Receives Special Airworthiness Certificate
- Magnix Announces Hydrogen Propulsion Development
The test flight comes on the back of successful demonstrations in December 2022 of Universal Hydrogen’s modular hydrogen logistics system conducted at the company’s engineering center in Toulouse, France. “Our business model resolves the chicken-and-egg problem between hydrogen airplanes and hydrogen infrastructure by developing both in parallel and with a uniquely low-cost approach,” said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. “The airplanes are converted to hydrogen using an aftermarket retrofit conversion kit, tackling the existing fleet rather than developing a brand new airplane. And hydrogen fueling uses modular capsules compatible with existing freight networks and airport cargo handling equipment, making every airport in the world hydrogen-ready.”
Why it’s important: As well-put in Universal Hydrogen’s press release, “the hydrogen-powered airplane is not just a revolutionary new product; it is a symbol of hope and progress, a beacon of light in a world that desperately needs it. Today marks a new chapter in the history of aviation and the fight against climate change. Universal Hydrogen is leading the charge, and the world is taking notice.”
BETA and Blade complete first piloted eVTOL flight in New York area
Blade Air Mobility, a technology-powered air mobility platform, and BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company developing electric vertical aircraft and supporting charging infrastructure, just announced the successful completion of a historic test flight of BETA’s ALIA-250 EVA at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York. The flight marks the first test of a piloted eVTOL in the greater...

BETA and Blade complete first piloted eVTOL flight in New York area

Blade Air Mobility, a technology-powered air mobility platform, and BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company developing electric vertical aircraft and supporting charging infrastructure, just announced the successful completion of a historic test flight of BETA’s ALIA-250 EVA at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York.

The flight marks the first test of a piloted eVTOL in the greater New York City area and is a significant milestone in the companies’ continued partnership to bring safe, quiet, and sustainable air transportation to commuter and commercial customers.
“This is a historic moment for Blade, New York and the urban air mobility industry,” said Rob Wiesenthal, Chief Executive Officer of Blade. “This demonstration is a big milestone in our transition from helicopters to electric vertical aircraft, and we are pleased that our partners at BETA have designed the right aircraft with the requisite range, capacity, and noise profile, for use in our key markets, including our homebase of New York City. We are confident EVAs will be a game-changer both for our company and New York City’s transportation system once certified by the FAA.”
“Blade is flying passengers in key urban markets all over the world, and this flight is another step toward delivering our electric aircraft to support those operations,” said Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder and CEO. “We continue to progress our aircraft, flying real-life missions and gaining proficiency in the national airspace. We were glad to be able to fly here from our flight test facility in Plattsburgh to work with Blade to operationalize our partnership.”
The ALIA-250 aircraft is powered by an all-electric propulsion system with vertical takeoff and landing capability and a noise profile that is 1/10th the sound decibel level of conventional helicopters, making it ideal for use in urban areas. The aircraft can fly up to six people and features a sleek and modern design with a range of features to ensure the highest levels of safety and comfort.
During the recent flight, the ALIA-250 flew alongside a conventional helicopter before pulling away for a second pass above the airport to highlight the dramatic noise reduction.
In April 2021, Blade announced an agreement to facilitate the purchase of up to 20 of BETA’s first passenger-configured ALIA-250 aircraft by its network of operators. Blade intends to deploy these initial aircraft on routes between its network of dedicated terminals in the US. BETA has also agreed to provide and install charging infrastructure at certain key locations.
Related:
- BLADE Announces Deal for Operator’s Order of up to 20 BETA EVA’s
- Redbird Capital Increases Ownership to 5% Stake in Blade Aerial Mobility
- BETA Technologies’ Alia Completes 1,400-mile Journey
Over the past three years, BETA has demonstrated reliably strong performance with its two full-scale prototype aircraft, accomplishing significant milestones toward certification and commercialization. BETA also had test pilots from the U.S. Air Force and Army pilot the ALIA-250 in full-pattern evaluations in March 2022 and July 2022, respectively, marking the branches’ first-ever flight of an electric vertical aircraft and the industry’s first manned qualitative evaluations. BETA has also partnered with the FAA and the National Institute for Aviation Research to conduct the first-ever 50-foot drop tests of its full-scale battery packs, successfully completing the test and advancing the industry’s path to safety standards and certification.
Why it’s important: This latest flight demonstration is an important step in the partnership between the Blade and Beta Technologies to enable the rapid introduction of electric vertical aircraft into Blade’s New York City and Short Distance businesses. Blade’s planned replacement of helicopters with eVTOL aircraft will drastically improve the safety and convenience of urban and regional transit in the greater New York area while also noticeably dampening overhead noise.
Source // Blade press release
ASKA eVTOL to debut at CES 2023
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known to be the most influential tech event in the world. This year, the event will be held from January 5th-8th in Las Vegas, Nevada and will highlight the latest transformative technologies, including vehicle technology, artificial intelligence, digital health and smart home tech, as well as new categories: NFTs, food tech, space tech and...

ASKA eVTOL to debut at CES 2023

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known to be the most influential tech event in the world. This year, the event will be held from January 5th-8th in Las Vegas, Nevada and will highlight the latest transformative technologies, including vehicle technology, artificial intelligence, digital health and smart home tech, as well as new categories: NFTs, food tech, space tech and a sea of people trying to see it all.
One advancement in vehicle technology that will be showcased at CES 2023 is the four-seater ASKA electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The “flying car” can drive on the road like a car or fly like an aircraft with capability for VTOL as well as short takeoff and landing (STOL). Its aerodynamic design is said to provide a great, safe, and efficient driving experience on the road and air. the vehicle is equipped with electric motors powering a flight range of up to 250 miles – an extender will also be available. Another feature includes an all-electric architecture which ensures future models can convert the range extenders to any other energy source including hydrogen.

Above: A prototype of the ASKA on display at CES 2023
ASKA’s development and flight testing is currently being conducted in accordance with FAA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines for certification. ASKA has also already signed a five-year Space Act Agreement with NASA to advance their participation in NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign (AAM), jointly organized with the FAA. ASKA is targeted for commercialization in 2026 subject to certification, and hopes to obtain highway certification with a speed of 70 mph while in drive mode. However, the first deliveries may be limited to local roads.
Why it’s important: CES is the premier stage on which a company can showcase the progress it has made on its latest innovations. The ASKA Drive and Fly vehicle is currently available for preorder to the general public; by witnessing the prototype on display at CES, this could cause an influx in orders as consumers realize the feasibility of the technology and trust in the company’s near-term ability to manufacture and sell the product.
NAA plans cross-country air race for electric aircraft
The first Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race, planned for May 2023, will be a four day, 1,000 nm cross-country event beginning in Omaha, NE and ending near Kitty Hawk, NC. The race will be hosted by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and open to piloted aerodynes of all types using zero-emission electric propulsion (e.g., fixed wing aeroplanes, helicopters, or multi-rotor eVTOL Advanced Air Mobility [AAM]...

NAA plans cross-country air race for electric aircraft

The first Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race, planned for May 2023, will be a four day, 1,000 nm cross-country event beginning in Omaha, NE and ending near Kitty Hawk, NC. The race will be hosted by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and open to piloted aerodynes of all types using zero-emission electric propulsion (e.g., fixed wing aeroplanes, helicopters, or multi-rotor eVTOL Advanced Air Mobility [AAM] vehicles).
Because many of the potential competitors may be in a research and development phase and using experimental aircraft, the race will be a day only, Visual Flight Rules (VFR) event. The race winner will be the pilot/crew with the fastest speed calculated from the cumulative flight time, not including time on the ground for maintenance, charging, or overnight stays. The specific race rules have been developed by the NAA Pulitzer Race Committee and are available here.
The cross-country format, rather than a closed-circuit speed event, was selected to emphasize electric aircraft range and reliability, in addition to speed, in a realistic operating environment. A cross-country race will require careful logistical planning from the race teams and highlight different electric propulsion technology choices and operational strategies such as rapid battery charging, whole battery changes, and solar power augmentation to extend range. As a long distance, multi-day cross-country event open to all classes and types of electric aircraft, we have designed the Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race to provide an open canvas for design innovations and be a flying expo for the electric aviation industry.
Why it’s important: The electric aircraft industry has been rapidly expanding in terms of technological readiness and the number of potential race contestants. The air race will be a resumption of the Pulitzer air races first held in the early 1920s, and the winner of the race awarded the Pulitzer Trophy (on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC) at a suitable NAA awards event. Even more important, the winning aircraft will receive strong publicity and prospective future consumers and commercial operators will subsequently view the aircraft and its manufacturer as a leader in the industry.
Ampaire Flies its First Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
Ampaire’s Eco Caravan, a nine-seat regional aircraft, has just made its first flight on a fully-integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system. Ampaire expects it to be the first electrified regional aircraft to enter commercial service (certification in 2024), and the first in a series of larger Ampaire hybrid-electric aircraft that will lead a transition to sustainable aviation. The first flight was 33...

Ampaire Flies its First Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft

Ampaire’s Eco Caravan, a nine-seat regional aircraft, has just made its first flight on a fully-integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system. Ampaire expects it to be the first electrified regional aircraft to enter commercial service (certification in 2024), and the first in a series of larger Ampaire hybrid-electric aircraft that will lead a transition to sustainable aviation.
The first flight was 33 minutes, performed to conduct initial checks of the hybrid-electric propulsion system. With test pilot Elliot Seguin, the Eco Caravan took off from Camarillo Airport north of Los Angeles at 7:49AM pacific time. It climbed to 3,500 feet at full power, combining power from the combustion engine and electric engine.
Seguin then throttled back to a cruise setting, reducing load on both power sources. He spent roughly 20 minutes testing various power settings while studying temperatures and other readings before making a descent and final approach to Camarillo at a low power setting. “The Eco Caravan propulsion system performed just as expected,” said Seguin. “It was smooth and quiet. All temperature and power output readings were normal.”
“Aviation is the hardest industry to de-carbonize,” said Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker. “Fully-electric aircraft are range limited because of the weight and energy capacity of current-generation batteries. Hybrid-electric aircraft, however, can preserve the range and utility of today’s aircraft. That is why we are focused on hybrid-electric propulsion for a series of increasingly capable regional aircraft. It’s a way for the airline industry to de-carbonize more quickly and also to benefit from lower operating costs.”



Just recently, Ampaire received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s advanced research unit, ARPA-E, for $9 million. The agency’s SCALEUP program will fund the development of key hybrid-electric subsystems that can be produced in volume and meet the standards of the FAA and other certifying authorities. The first commercial application of SCALEUP technology is slated to be Ampaire’s Eco Caravan, which will accelerate Ampaire’s plans to bring compelling and practical hybrid-electric aircraft to market.
Why it’s important: This is a first and a major milestone in a new generation of sustainable electrified aircraft. The Eco Caravan’s propulsion technology is scalable to larger regional aircraft and ultimately to single-aisle airlines. Ampaire plans to rapidly roll out more powerful propulsion systems for larger aircraft, following a building-block approach that will dramatically improve the sustainability of airline operations.
Ampaire’s approach differs from other electric aviation developers in that its current aircraft in development will not require a full aircraft certification program, as these can be time consuming and very expensive. The Grand Caravan is already FAA certified, meaning Ampaire is simply certifying it to fly with a new propulsion system. Ampaire is already working with the FAA to certify the Eco Caravan under a supplemental type certificate (STC) by 2024.
Source // Ampaire press release
Archer Unveils its Production Aircraft, Midnight
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), based in Santa Clara, CA, has publicly unveiled its production aircraft, Midnight, a pilot-plus-four-passenger eVTOL aircraft during its Open House event in Palo Alto, CA. Midnight is the evolution of Archer’s demonstrator eVTOL aircraft, Maker, which has validated its proprietary twelve-tilt-six configuration and key enabling technologies. Midnight is designed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and,...

Archer Unveils its Production Aircraft, Midnight

Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), based in Santa Clara, CA, has publicly unveiled its production aircraft, Midnight, a pilot-plus-four-passenger eVTOL aircraft during its Open House event in Palo Alto, CA. Midnight is the evolution of Archer’s demonstrator eVTOL aircraft, Maker, which has validated its proprietary twelve-tilt-six configuration and key enabling technologies.
Midnight is designed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and, with its expected payload of over 1,000 pounds, can carry four passengers plus a pilot. Midnight is optimized for back-to-back short distance trips of around 20-miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between. Archer is working to certify Midnight with the FAA in late-2024 and will then use it as part of its UAM network, which it plans to launch in 2025.
“From day one Archer’s strategy has always been about finding the most efficient path to commercializing eVTOL aircraft,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “We believe our strategy and team’s ability to execute on it has allowed us to establish our leadership position in the market, and is why we are confident we will be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA.”
Archer’s unique approach to designing Midnight focuses on combining high function and high emotion, inspiring passengers to want to experience it, similar to the feeling that was evoked in this country during the Golden Age of aviation in the 1950s. Archer is confident that Midnight will lead the way in this new era of vertical flight. Midnight marries cutting-edge electric propulsion technology with state-of-the-art aircraft systems to deliver the key attributes of our eVTOL aircraft:
- Safety. High redundancy and simplified propulsion systems and electric motors make for a significantly safer and easily-maintainable aircraft compared to a helicopter. Midnight has no single critical points of failure, meaning that should any single component fail, the aircraft can still safely complete its flight.
- Low noise. Designed to cruise at approximately 2,000 feet, the design of Midnight is such that the noise that reaches the ground is expected to measure around 45 A-weighted decibels (dBA), almost 1,000 times quieter than that of a helicopter.
- Sustainable. Midnight is all electric, resulting in zero operating emissions. Archer is committed to sourcing renewable energy wherever possible to power its aircraft. For example, Midnight’s seats are constructed out of “flax” fiber, a natural plant which requires very little irrigation and is highly absorbent of CO2.





“We continue the push towards commercialization, with the vast majority of our resources focused on completing the development and certification of Midnight, building out our manufacturing and supply chain capabilities and hardening our go-to-market plans,” said Mark Mesler, Archer’s CFO.
In August, Archer completed Midnight’s preliminary design review covering all aspects of the aircraft’s specifications and manufacturing requirements, which enabled it to determine that the design is feasible for Type Certification and commercialization.
Content from the Open House event is now available on Archer’s investor relations website (investors.archer.com) and Archer’s social media accounts.
Why it’s important: Archer has also made rapid progress on Maker’s flight testing program and is on schedule to complete a full transition flight in the coming weeks, just twelve months after its first hover flight. Achieving this milestone will further validate the flight physics of Archer’s proprietary twelve-tilt-six configuration that it uses on both Maker and Midnight, as well as a number of the key enabling technologies, such as the aircraft flight control system. The Maker flight test program has generated invaluable data that Archer has leveraged in the development and certification path of Midnight.
Source // Archer press release
Eviation’s first all-electric airplane takes flight
On September 27, 2022, aircraft manufacturer Eviation successfully completed the first flight of its zero-emission Alice aircraft, a historic day and major milestone in electric aviation. Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates captured the following footage: Alice lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet. This trailblazing flight...

Eviation’s first all-electric airplane takes flight

On September 27, 2022, aircraft manufacturer Eviation successfully completed the first flight of its zero-emission Alice aircraft, a historic day and major milestone in electric aviation. Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates captured the following footage:
Take-off 7:10 a.m.
— Dominic Gates (@dominicgates) September 27, 2022
Alice is flying pic.twitter.com/V7sIpPGfpB
Alice lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet. This trailblazing flight of the technology demonstrator provided Eviation with invaluable data to further optimize the aircraft for commercial production.
“Today we embark on the next era of aviation – we have successfully electrified the skies with the unforgettable first flight of Alice,” said Eviation President and CEO Gregory Davis. “People now know what affordable, clean and sustainable aviation looks and sounds like for the first time in a fixed-wing, all-electric aircraft. This ground-breaking milestone will lead innovation in sustainable air travel, and shape both passenger and cargo travel in the future.”
Related:
- Eviation’s Alice Completes High-Speed Ground Test, Receives 50 Aircraft Pre-orders – Sept 2022
- Eviation’s ‘Alice’ Prepares for its First Test Flight – Jan 2022
- DHL Express to Order 12 Alice Cargo Aircraft from Eviation – Aug 2021
Alice produces no carbon emissions, significantly reduces noise, and costs a fraction to operate per flight hour compared to light jets or high-end turboprops. The aircraft is available in three variants including a nine-passenger commuter, an elegant and sophisticated six-passenger executive cabin, and an eCargo version. All configurations support two crew members. The executive cabin and eCargo variations are identical to the commuter configuration, except for the interior.
Alice is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units from magniX, the only flight-proven electric propulsion systems at this scale. Other key suppliers include AVL (battery support), GKN (wings), Honeywell (advanced fly-by-wire system, flight controls and avionics), Multiplast (fuselage), Parker Aerospace (six technology systems), and Potez (doors).
Alice’s advanced battery system is highly efficient and endlessly upgradeable enabling range improvements as battery technology evolves. The aircraft also incorporates a fly-by-wire cockpit, providing greater reliability and systems redundancy.
Why it’s important: All-electric aircraft will make regional travel more economically and environmentally sustainable for businesses and consumers. This new generation of aircraft has the power to transform communities by providing access to airports not currently used by commercial flights due to noise concerns or restricted operating hours. Eviation Alice is targeted at commuter and cargo markets, and will typically operate flights ranging from 150 miles to 250 miles.
Cape Air Founder and Board Chairman Dan Wolf said the following, which accurately depicts the gravity of this achievement: “The first flight of Alice represents a transformational milestone for the aviation industry”. “We currently fly more than 400 regional flights per day, connecting more than 30 cities across the United States and Caribbean. Alice can easily cover 80 percent of our flight operations, bringing sustainable, emission-free travel to the communities we serve.”
Source // Eviation press release
Honeywell Air Mobility Summit 2022 Preview
This Wednesday, innovators and leaders from the aerial mobility, airspace management, transportation innovation and rule-making industries will converge in Washington, D.C. for Honeywell’s invite-only Aerial Mobility Summit. The summit aims to advance the rate of progress toward policy decisions for the next generation of aircraft, with special emphasis toward a more unified global standard of eVTOL aircraft certification that includes...

Honeywell Air Mobility Summit 2022 Preview

This Wednesday, innovators and leaders from the aerial mobility, airspace management, transportation innovation and rule-making industries will converge in Washington, D.C. for Honeywell’s invite-only Aerial Mobility Summit.
The summit aims to advance the rate of progress toward policy decisions for the next generation of aircraft, with special emphasis toward a more unified global standard of eVTOL aircraft certification that includes buy in key regulators such as the FAA and EASA. Further, the conference also highlights the intent to cement rules and policies surrounding beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS) to allow operators to start to plan our their communication and datalink networks using the frameworks that are yet to be agreed upon.

Programming highlights for September 21st include speakers from the U.S. House Transportation Committee, uncrewed BVLOS OEM’s, UAS and UAM Technology experts, displays, and simulators, and an industry panel on key aerial mobility aircraft design and manufacturing firms.
Why it’s important: This summit addresses a key component and requirement of both the aerial mobility and innovative connectivity for transportation networks – the ability for multiple autonomous or remotely operated vehicles to cohabit the same areas while remaining deconflicted from traffic conflicts. A key component to success for this challenge is a unified front of requirements for OEM’s to design toward, and similarly, the certification discussion for aerial mobility aircraft is another opportunity for global regulators to unite to increase the commonality of certification standards and ultimately support a more globally integrated suite of aerial mobility aircraft, in lieu of regionalized models due to stratification of regulatory requirements.
More information on the summit can be found here.
Odys Aircraft Raises $12.4M USD in Seed Funding Round
Odys Aviation, a California-based aerial mobility startup, has raised $12.4 million USD in its seed funding round to help develop its hybrid-propulsion eVTOL aircraft. Founded in 2019 as Craft Aerospace, Odys Aviation is creating an eVTOL that would hold 9 passengers and 2 pilots, reach speeds of 345 mph, reach altitudes of 30,000 feet, and have a total range of...

Odys Aircraft Raises $12.4M USD in Seed Funding Round

Odys Aviation, a California-based aerial mobility startup, has raised $12.4 million USD in its seed funding round to help develop its hybrid-propulsion eVTOL aircraft.
Founded in 2019 as Craft Aerospace, Odys Aviation is creating an eVTOL that would hold 9 passengers and 2 pilots, reach speeds of 345 mph, reach altitudes of 30,000 feet, and have a total range of up to 1,000 miles. Especially notable is the eVTOL aircraft’s unique design — it uses a VTOL method called a “blown wing” or “deflected slipstream,” which redirects the flow of air from its rotors using flaps rather than by turning them.

“Odys Aviation is building an aircraft that reduces CO2 by up to 80% while eliminating travel pain. Beyond and distinct from air taxis, our range covers 65% of domestic flights, and we’re proud to be getting so much traction with airlines so soon after inception,” says James Dorris, co-founder and CEO of Odys Aviation.
The eVTOL aircraft, yet unnamed, would most likely be seen in regional/domestic flight applications. According to the company, its design, combined with the use of helipads, municipal airports and future “vertiports” will make “door-to-door regional travel simpler, faster, cheaper and greener.” Currently Odys is in collaboration with Mojave Air and Space Port, and is looking to expand its partner network. “Integration at smaller airports is already very practical,” said co-founder and CEO James Dorris. “We have collaborated with two vertiport developers to ensure our aircraft can practically land at their facilities, and we’re also in discussion with one of the U.S.’s largest airports to assess airspace integration issues.”

While still in sub-scale prototype testing, the recent increase in funds has kept Odys on track to begin full-scale test flights soon. “We will fly the next scale prototype (effectively a one-seater) later this year. The first full-scale prototype flight tests are still scheduled for late 2023,” said Dorris. The funding comes from Giant Ventures, Soma Capital, Countdown Capital, Nikhil Goel and Kyle Vogt. In addition to the demonstration of its 1-seater prototype, the funds will go towards a new production facility and expansion of Odys’ leadership and engineering teams.
Why it’s important: According to Odys co-founder James Dorris, Odys’ fast, stable VTOL craft will help unlock a new kind of regional air travel, rejecting larger airports for minor ones or even heliports. The goal of Odys is to reduce the time spent before and after transit, such as during security checks, travel to the correct gate, air traffic control delays, and the commute to and from larger airports. “Traveling shouldn’t be a painful experience, and it certainly shouldn’t be taking a toll on our environment and communities”, says Dorris.
While Odys doesn’t have the only regional hybrid eVTOL aircraft (others include the Zuri eVTOL and the Transcend Air Vy400), its unique “blown wind” design propulsion design may make it a key player in this market. With the creation of multiple kinds of long-range hybrid eVTOLs in progress, we can expect to see a fair level of healthy competition emerge among these market players, suggesting a robust industry for these new kinds of aircraft.
Source // Tech Crunch
Related:
Zuri’s Hybrid-Electric VTOL to come in multiple configuration options (Jan 2022)
Transcend Air’s ‘VIP’ Air Taxi Service set to Launch in 2024
French Startup Unveils Flying Racecar Concept at CES 2022
French startup MACA unveiled its revolutionary Hybrid Carcopter S Eleven flying vehicle at CES this week. The company’s public display employed augmented reality to demonstrate the capabilities of the autonomous aircraft, almost exactly one year after the following “teaser” video was released: The S Eleven is a racing purpose-built vehicle designed to reach a top speed of 155mph and has room for...

French Startup Unveils Flying Racecar Concept at CES 2022

French startup MACA unveiled its revolutionary Hybrid Carcopter S Eleven flying vehicle at CES this week. The company’s public display employed augmented reality to demonstrate the capabilities of the autonomous aircraft, almost exactly one year after the following “teaser” video was released:
The S Eleven is a racing purpose-built vehicle designed to reach a top speed of 155mph and has room for one pilot. The flying racing car also has automatic collision avoidance systems, similar to the Alauda Airspeeder, in order to ensure full safety during competition.
“The racing industry has enabled us to build and evolve our product faster than our competitors because we apply existing requirements and certifications to our craft beginning with our initial design phase, allowing us to overcome all regulatory hurdles before conceptual development ever began,” says MACA Chief Operating Officer Thierry de Boisvilliers. “Plus the Carcopter S Eleven will be powered by eco-friendly Hydrogen-based fuel cells, which leaves no impact on the environment while delivering greater time-in-the-sky autonomy than vehicles using electricity or fossil fuels.” What’s more, de Boisvilliers says, the company’s relationship with the world of auto racing allows MACA to test their vehicle at low altitudes at local racetracks within a closed environment, thus enabling the company to gauge, monitor and support the vehicle through every phase of product testing.
“During trial flights, MACA will place sensors all around the tests-tracks, ensuring that even unmanned sessions will prevent vehicles from hitting walls or – in the case of multiple vehicles testing simultaneously – one another,” he says.
A retired French fighter pilot, de Boisvilliers founded MACA in 2020 with former Airbus executive Michael Krollak, after three years of R&D. The concept launched as the direct result of an internal Airbus engineering competition, where the duo’s Formula One Flying Car Concept earned top honors, garnering the support of all major Airbus divisions. Now equipped with a Carcopter S Eleven prototype, MACA was able to unveil their creation to the world in Las Vegas via its one-third scale aircraft.
Why it’s important: MACA’s racing Carcopter isn’t the only ‘flying race car’ concept on the horizon. Alauda and Airspeeder, for example, just established the world’s first Flying Race Car Factory, and have even already conducted the first unmanned aerial drag race with manned races planned for later this year.
Both Alauda and MACA are inspired by F1, and intend to use the momentum gained through competition to push forward the aerial mobility industry, eventually hoping to develop vehicles that could augment auto traffic to reduce its load on urban areas.
This arrival of MACA on the playing field increases competition within the aerial racing industry, which could accelerate overall interest in the niche and foster development of needed infrastructure.
Related Articles:
- Airspeeder MK3: World’s First Electric Flying Racing Car
- Alauda Aeronautics Establishes world’s first Flying Race Car Factory
Wisk displays autonomous eVTOL aircraft at CoMotion LA
Wisk, the urban air mobility company based out of San Francisco and New Zealand, displayed its fifth generation, autonomous, electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi publicly for the first time during CoMotion LA (Nov. 16 – 18). Upon arriving at the conference, Wisk tweeted the following photos of its aircraft: Hello, #LosAngeles. We've arrived. Curious about #CoMotionLA?...

Wisk displays autonomous eVTOL aircraft at CoMotion LA

Wisk, the urban air mobility company based out of San Francisco and New Zealand, displayed its fifth generation, autonomous, electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi publicly for the first time during CoMotion LA (Nov. 16 – 18). Upon arriving at the conference, Wisk tweeted the following photos of its aircraft:
Hello, #LosAngeles. We've arrived. Curious about #CoMotionLA? For more behind-the-scenes content, check out our IG stories! https://t.co/yQhldTvrrx pic.twitter.com/C45Xr5mHnS
— Wisk (@WiskAero) November 15, 2021
“We’re extremely excited to be an Impact partner for CoMotion again this year,” said Wisk’s Chief Marketing Officer, Becky Tanner, who presented a keynote entitled “Those Who Leap” at the conference. “Throughout history, there have been advancements that have fundamentally changed our lives and pushed us into the future with a leap. We are on the edge of another great leap- one that will take us from congested, ground-based, fossil-fuel-driven transportation, to cleaner, all-electric, everyday flight.”
CoMotion LA will be the first time that Wisk has publicly displayed its eVTOL air taxi in the U.S. To date, the company’s fleet of fifth generation aircraft has been reserved exclusively for testing purposes and has been accessible to the broader public only through flight videos and photos. CoMotion LA marks the start of an enhanced public engagement effort, including both demonstrations and displays, designed to bring stakeholders along on the journey, see firsthand the safety of the technology, and experience the future of mobility.
Tanner added:
“We are incredibly excited to be displaying our autonomous eVTOL air taxi for the first time in the U.S., and to kick off our broader public engagement effort. We understand that the journey to everyday flight for everyone is not one that we can take alone and we are proud to share with the public what we get the privilege to experience every day.”
Why it’s important: Wisk is focused on delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. Since 2010, the company has successfully designed and developed five generations of eVTOL aircraft and has completed more than 1,500 test flights. The CoMotion LA conference provided a great medium for Wisk to publicize the progress it has made on its current prototype and allude to what can be expected in its sixth generation aircraft.
Aerial Mobility Takes Center Stage at NBAA-BACE 2021
Aerial mobility made another big splash as NBAA-BACE returned to in-person events in Las Vegas. This year, aerial mobility had an increased presence with over 9 eVTOL firms attending. “NBAA-BACE serves an important place to not only showcase innovation across our industry but to also discuss how these emerging technologies will be implemented,” said NBAA Senior VP of government affairs...

Aerial Mobility Takes Center Stage at NBAA-BACE 2021

Aerial mobility made another big splash as NBAA-BACE returned to in-person events in Las Vegas. This year, aerial mobility had an increased presence with over 9 eVTOL firms attending.
“NBAA-BACE serves an important place to not only showcase innovation across our industry but to also discuss how these emerging technologies will be implemented,” said NBAA Senior VP of government affairs Christa Lucas. “We’re pleased to bring together these influential policymakers and thought leaders to host an important conversation about current work in the AAM space, how each agency is preparing and planning, and future policies and regulations in this space.”
This year’s focus was on bolstering support of public buy-in on eVTOL technologies. With climate change affecting the world in which we live and coming mandates for cleaner forms of transportations, it is clear there is a future need for clean aerial mobility.
One of the highlights of the week was a panel moderated by Cyrus Sigari, co-founder and managing partner of UP.Partners. The panel included Eric Allison, head of product at Joby Aviation; Kyle Clark, CEO of Beta Technologies; Martin Peryea, CEO of Jaunt Air Mobility; Sebastian Thrun, CEO of Kitty Hawk Corp.; Melissa Tomkiel, president of Blade Urban Air Mobility; and Benjamin Tigner, CEO of Overair.
In pursuit of wider public support, each of the panelists agreed that the noise footprint generated by eVTOL vehicles is the top priority. Many of the manufacturers listed above have engineered innovative ways to tackle the noise issue through next-generation electric motors and prop-wash dissipation technologies. Companies dedicated to reducing eVTOL noise footprints like Mark Moore’s Whisper Aero are also working on commercial products and propulsion platforms to offer to eVTOL OEM’s.
Melissa Tomkiel, president of Blade Urban Air Mobility, said that it will be critical to develop infrastructure in urban centers, partly by using existing heliports, but also developing new vertiports in conjunction with local governments. “We’ll also have to overcome the stigma of urban-air transport being too expensive for the general public,” she said. “That’s one of the big challenges.”
Kitty Hawk CEO, Sebastian Thrun, closed stating, “The next time you’re stuck in traffic. Imagine that your car can fly. It’s always been the dreamers who change the world, and dreamers like us think you don’t have to be stuck in traffic, simply by democratizing flight.”
Why it matters: NBAA is the largest event of the year for business aviation and shows that aerial mobility not only has survived the COVID-19 pandemic, but is thriving. Each of the manufacturers featured are aware of the challenges that lie ahead in getting their products to market and have strategies for bolstering public support.
Joby Aviation Opens Washington DC Office
Joby Aero Inc., a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced it is opening a new office in Washington, DC to support the collaborative work it is doing with the aviation community and policymakers to bring quiet, zero-emissions aviation to life. Equipped with a state-of-the-art flight simulator, visitors to the new office are able to experience what...

Joby Aviation Opens Washington DC Office

Joby Aero Inc., a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced it is opening a new office in Washington, DC to support the collaborative work it is doing with the aviation community and policymakers to bring quiet, zero-emissions aviation to life.
Equipped with a state-of-the-art flight simulator, visitors to the new office are able to experience what it’s like to fly Joby’s revolutionary electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft first-hand.

Joby’s real aircraft has flown over 1000 flights. The simulator shown here is flying over the DC region. Credit // Joby Aviation
Joby intends to use its aircraft to launch an aerial ridesharing service in 2024, transporting a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph. With a range of 150 miles, recently demonstrated by the Company’s full-scale prototype aircraft, passengers will be able to move rapidly in and around cities and regions, without any associated operating emissions.
As part of its commitment to working collaboratively on accelerating the adoption of zero-emissions aviation, Joby recently announced a joint effort with JetBlue Airways and Signature Flight Support to build a pathway to the utilization of electric and hydrogen aviation credits. The company is also working with policymakers and local governments to support community-based planning grants for aerial ridesharing as well as the development of electric aviation charging infrastructure.
“This new electric age of aviation will transform transportation in the US and around the world. With our full-scale prototype continuing to demonstrate its capabilities and aircraft certification and entry into service just a few years away, we are excited to bring this experience to Washington, D.C.” said Greg Bowles, Head of Government Affairs at Joby.
“We look forward to accelerating the industry’s education efforts on the dramatic benefits that zero-emissions aviation and eVTOL flight enable and we’re grateful for the support of key government and industry stakeholders who have already visited our new DC office and experienced Joby flight in our simulator,” added Bowles. “We look forward to welcoming many more thought leaders and policy makers as we demonstrate the global importance of the clean future of flight.”
Why it’s important: Joby Aviation’s new Washington DC office will facilitate collaboration with the neighboring aviation community and policy makers on quiet, emissions-free flight; state-of-the-art simulator availability will also offer eVTOL flight experience & training for further cutting-edge development.
Source // Joby press release
Volocopter Completes First Ever Public Crewed eVTOL Test Flight at EAA AirVenture
Today, July 27th, Volocopter flew its 2X eVTOL aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture 2021 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flight was the first ever public crewed test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the US. The crewed Volocopter 2X took off at 2:45 PM CST for a 4-minute flight at ~164 ft and a...

Volocopter Completes First Ever Public Crewed eVTOL Test Flight at EAA AirVenture

Today, July 27th, Volocopter flew its 2X eVTOL aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture 2021 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flight was the first ever public crewed test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the US.
The crewed Volocopter 2X took off at 2:45 PM CST for a 4-minute flight at ~164 ft and a top speed of 18 mph over Wittman Regional Airport as part of EAA’s AirVenture aviation celebration. Event attendees were able to watch the Volocopter 2X fly and take a seat in the VoloCity model at Volocopter’s booth to experience these aircraft. Nicknamed the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” more than 600,000 visitors are expected to come to see pioneering designs in action.
Footage of the crewed test flight can be found here on Volocopter’s website.

Volocopter’s VoloCity on display at EAA’ AirVenture Oshkosh 2021. Credit // Volocopter
“Oshkosh is a haven for enthusiasts and experts to embrace the pioneering spirit of aviation, and today’s Volocopter flight is one for the history books. This is the spirit of Oshkosh giving our visitors the chance to experience real pioneers, who will change aviation for good, right here,” says Rick Larsen, EAA Vice President of Communities and Member Programming.
“Volocopter successfully conducting the first US public manned test flight of an eVTOL company in the US is a milestone for the industry and a reminder that our commercial launch is fast approaching. We can talk about our lead in certification, low noise emissions, and global partnerships all we want, but nothing shows just how close we are to launch UAM as a service as does flying an air taxi in front of crowds and inviting people to sit in our aircraft. Air taxis are coming, and we are working to bring electric flights to cities around the globe in the next two to three years,” says Florian Reuter, Volocopter CEO.
Once certified for commercial launch in Europe, Volocopter is positioned for concurrent type certification approvals in the US from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), having applied earlier this year, and the civil aviation authority in Singapore (CAAS). The company already holds Design Organisation Approval and Production Organisation Approval, two strategic certification approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to design and produce aircraft in-house.
Why it’s important: This successful flight marks a key milestone in Volocopter’s plan to raise awareness of air taxis among populations around the globe and is critical to the long-term success of delivering advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) solutions.
Vertical Aerospace to go Public with a $2.2b Merger
Vertical Aerospace has announced its plans to go public through a merger with Broadstone Acquisition Corp (BSN) that will give Vertical Aerospace a pro forma equity valuation of $2.2 billion USD. Expected to go through in either the third or fourth quarter of 2021, Vertical will enter the New York Stock Exchange using the ticker EVTL. Additional contributors to the...

Vertical Aerospace to go Public with a $2.2b Merger

Vertical Aerospace has announced its plans to go public through a merger with Broadstone Acquisition Corp (BSN) that will give Vertical Aerospace a pro forma equity valuation of $2.2 billion USD. Expected to go through in either the third or fourth quarter of 2021, Vertical will enter the New York Stock Exchange using the ticker EVTL. Additional contributors to the $89 million private investment in public equity include American Airlines, Avolon, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, and Microsoft’s M12. Rocket Internet and 40 North were named as key financial investors as well.
In addition, Vertical Aerospace has announced commercial deals and partnerships worth up to 1,000 aircraft pre-orders or up to $4 billion, forming relationships with American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Avalan to provide Vertical’s VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft.
According to Vertical Aerospace founder and CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick, these commercial partnerships and pre-orders will create “multiple near-term and actionable routes to market.” In addition, he also stated, “Today’s announcement brings together some of the largest and most respected technology and aeronautical businesses in the world and together we can achieve our aim of making the VA-X4 the first zero-carbon aircraft that most people will fly on.”
In the United States, Vertical looks to work with American Airlines on passenger operations and infrastructure development, while in the U.K., Vertical expects to work with Virgin Atlantic to develop a joint venture launch of a Virgin Atlantic short haul network. Both these partnerships and the pre-orders are contingent on certain conditions and milestones: American Airlines has agreed to order up to 250 VA-X4s with the option to order 100 more, while Virgin Atlantic has the option to obtain between 50 and then potentially 150 aircraft.
To complete these deals, Vertical Aerospace also intends to finish the certification process for the VA-X4 with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and launch commercial operations by 2024.
“Phase 1 of our spend is to build and certify the VA-X4 and that will require gross spend of around $300 million, of which we already have around $50 million of funding through cash and grants. Phase 2 of our spend is to build a state-of-the-art assembly facility and the total gross of this we estimate at around $140 million,” says Vertical Aerospace chief financial officer Vinny Casey, “We would expect some netting off against this number for in-year profits and pre-delivery payments. So we are very comfortable that our raise of $394 million gross equips us well to reach commercialization, especially when you take into account that we have the largest announced forward orderbook globally.”
According to Fitzpatrick, Vertical Aerospace’s business model allows for a build and operation cost of an estimated $1 per passenger-mile, far lower than some competitors and largely due to the contributions from Vertical’s partners such as Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, GKN, and Solvay. With this prediction, Vertical estimates show that it will be able to achieve profitability and cash flow breakeven with annual sales of less than 100 aircraft. By 2026, it is targeting annual production of 1,000 aircraft, which would translate to revenues of $3.6 billion.

Vertical expects to work with Virgin Atlantic to develop a joint venture launch of a Virgin Atlantic short haul network.
Photograph: Virgin Atlantic
Why it’s important: Vertical Aerospace’s business model, which projects sales requirement numbers lower than most competitors, is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why the merger with Broadstone has been successful. With this move, Vertical Aerospace looks to be one of the main disruptors in the transportation industry worldwide, and a top provider of eVTOL technology globally, joining companies like BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation, and more.
Source // CNN
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