FutureFlight

In an equity capital transaction, Vertical Aerospace's founder and CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick, will provide two $25 million tranches by the end of July that are expected to sustain the UK company into the second quarter of 2025. Vertical says it has almost completed work on the second VX4 eVTOL prototype and will start flight testing in time for the aircraft to make a public appearance at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.

Maritime Energy Heli Air Services is firming up finance to support the purchase of up to 20 of ZeroAvia's ZA600 hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, which it will retrofit to its fleet of nine-passenger Cessna Caravan aircraft. The company also has plans to introduce Jekta's PHA-ZE 100 19-seat seaplanes.

Indian private aviation group JetSetGo says it will buy up to 100 of Horizon's hybrid-electric Cavorite X7 aircraft, which is expected to have a range of up to around 500 miles. The memorandum of understanding was signed a day after Canada-based Horizon completed its business combination with special purpose acquisition company Pono Capital Three and a Nasdaq stock market listing that raised an initial $9 million for the program.

NASA Rolls Out X-59 Quiet Supersonic Demonstrator

Almost 150 speakers and 37 exhibiting companies are set to participate in the Vertical Flight Society's Transformative Vertical Flight event, which will also include the 11th annual Electric VTOL Symposium. Speakers will include leaders from major agencies such as the FAA, EASA, and NASA, as well as the U.S. Army and Air Force. Two eVTOL aircraft are expected to be on display in Santa Clara, California, among 37 exhibiting companies.

Pivotal, the ultralight eVTOL developer formerly known as Opener, has officially begun selling its flagship Helix aircraft, a single-seat, all-electric vehicle that requires no pilot’s license to operate. Recreational flyers in the U.S. can now purchase the Helix online at a starting price of $190,000, and Pivotal plans to begin shipments on June 10. 

Atlantic Aviation is making plans for eVTOL aircraft operations at multiple locations in its U.S. network of FBOs, with partnership agreements announced this week with rival manufacturers Joby and Archer. The partnerships will see electric recharging equipment provided by both companies installed at Atlantic sites, as well as joint work to explore the next steps in preparing for the launch of eVTOL air taxi services in 2025.

Logistics group Aramex Emirates is evaluating plans to deploy a pair of hybrid-electric aircraft being developed by Odys Aviation for cargo flights in the UAE and Oman. A letter of intent signed on January 9 could pave the way for possible sales of the U.S. company’s Laila uncrewed air vehicle and the larger VTOL aircraft that Odys is now calling the Alta.

Japanese eVTOL aircraft developer SkyDrive is looking to make early inroads into India’s advanced air mobility (AAM) market through new public and private-sector partnerships. During the Gujarat Global Summit 2024 event that closed on January 13, the company signed collaboration agreements with the engineering and technology group Cyient and the government of the Indian state of Gujarat.

Swiss start-up Sirius Aviation AG has revealed the design for its Sirius Jet, which it describes as a hydrogen-electric 'business jet' with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. The company intends to have the model certified and in service by 2028, and will offer two variants of the aircraft, one tailored for private use and the other for commercial air taxi services.