American Airlines Commits to Purchasing 50 eVTOL from Vertical Aerospace
American Airlines has reserved delivery slots and secured pre-delivery payments for 50 VX4 eVTOL aircraft. Meanwhile, Vertical has also secured a preorder from the European business jet operator FlyingGroup for another 50 VX4s.
Merlin Labs Raises $105 Million, Partners with U.S. Air Force for Autonomous Flights
The autonomous piloting start-up Merlin Labs has raised $105 million in its latest funding round. The company has also partnered with the U.S. Air Force to build an autonomous flight system for the C-130J Super Hercules, the most-used cargo craft in the Air Force’s fleet.
V-Star To Bring Next-generation VTOL Aircraft to South Australia
V-Star Powered Lift Aviation intends to begin flying next-generation VTOL aircraft in southern Australia as early as 2023. Its mixed fleet of aircraft can be used for emergency services, regional travel, and commercial transportation.
Cranfield Aerospace Secures First Customer for Modified 'Green' Islander Aircraft
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions has signed a letter of intent with the German start-up airline Evia Aero to supply 10 hydrogen fuel cell conversion kits for Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.
Bristow Commits To Ordering 100 Chaparral VTOL Freighters from Elroy Air
Houston-based civil helicopter operator Bristow Helicopters has signed a letter of intent with San Francisco-based Elroy Air to preorder 100 units of the autonomous aircraft, which is built for transporting freight. Elroy aims to transform air cargo services with this one-of-a-kind vehicle, which not only flies autonomously but can also drop off and pick up cargo robotically in a matter of minutes.
Dutch Regulators Stop VoltAero's Plans for Hybrid-Electric Cassio Test Flights
VoltAero says Dutch regulators have refused to accept the existing clearance from French authorities for its Cassio 1 hybrid-electric aircraft to be used for test flights. The company says that has forced it to postpone plans to fly the aircraft in the Netherlands. It says aviation safety agencies ought to apply rules governing test flights consistently.
Air One Personal eVTOL Aircraft Achieves First Hover Test
Air has successfully flown the first hover tests of its new personal eVTOL aircraft, Air One, the Israel-based startup announced on July 12.
The full-scale Air One prototype took off above the fields of Megiddo in northern Israel on June 21. It completed several unpiloted hover tests throughout the day and during the following two weeks, in which the aircraft lifted off, hovered, and returned to the ground safely, the company said.
Hydrogen Flight Crash Report Highlights Faults in ZeroAvia's Test Process
The UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch has issued its final report on the April 2021 crash of a Piper aircraft being used by ZeroAvia to test its hydrogen propulsion system. The company is expected to start flight tests with a larger Dornier 228 aircraft later this week.
Toray Will Provide Advanced Composites for Overair's Butterfly eVTOL Prototype
California-based eVTOL start-up Overair has selected Toray Composite Materials America to supply advanced materials for its Butterfly electric air taxi prototype.
AeroDelft Student Team Flies First Prototype of ‘Phoenix’ Hydrogen-powered Aircraft
A team of students at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has successfully flown the first prototype of its Phoenix hydrogen-powered aircraft.