FutureFlight

Amprius says its latest 450-Wh/kg, 1150-Wh/L high-energy-density lithium-ion cells represent a step-change in battery performance that could support a wide variety of new electric aircraft. The company's Si-Nanowire silicon-based anodes are a key differentiator because they have lower resistance than traditional electrodes, resulting in higher power.

Odys has trialed a sub-scale demonstrator for its patented process for generating vectored thrust via extending the wing flaps to support both vertical and cruise phases of flights. The start-up intends to fly a single-seat scale model of the hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft before the end of 2022, boosted by a seed funding round that raised $12.4 million and an earlier commitment from public charter operator JSX to buy an initial 200 units.

The Italian start-up has relocated its headquarters close to those of Leonardo Helicopters in the Lombardy region of northern Italy and has boosted its leadership team with the appointment of two former senior executives from the aerospace group. The Manta engineering team will soon have two one-third-scale prototypes in flight testing, and, with the design for the ANN2 model frozen, it expects to start assembling a full-scale prototype at the beginning of 2023.

On-demand private aviation digital platform Yugo has signed a memorandum of understanding for up to 12 of Electra's hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft to be available for charter flights in the Asia-Pacific region. The Singapore-based company works with a network of business aircraft charter providers.

Embraer subsidiary Eve Urban Air Mobility aims to certify its four-passenger eVTOL vehicle to be ready to start deliveries in 2026, initially under the requirements of ANAC, the aviation regulator in its home country, Brazil. At the same time, it will pursue international validation of this type certificate to allow it to bring the aircraft into service with operators worldwide.

The start of the conformity testing marks the beginning of the implementation phase of the type certification process for Joby's all-electric, four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. The tests were devised by Joby engineers and are overseen by FAA-designated engineering representatives who observe and document the production process to ensure that systems and structures are consistent with design specifications.

A $1 billion finance deal with Aviation Capital Group is expected to provide liquidity for Volocopter to produce its eVTOL aircraft family and lease some of the vehicles to other operators. The German company's core business model envisages it having full control of planned commercial air taxi services, with some involvement by operating partners.

Doroni Aeropsace is targetting its two-seater H1 eVTOL aircraft mainly at the personal transportation market, with the expectation that operators will not need a full pilot's license under light-sport aircraft rules. A full-scale prototype is expected to start flight testing in 2022 with the company trying to fast-track to production by 2024.

Israel's civil aviation authority claims that its type certificate allowing Elbit's Hermes Starliner uncrewed aircraft system to operate without restrictions alongside piloted aircraft in civilian airspace is a world-first in terms of the regulation of autonomous aircraft. The UAS is a derivative of the Israeli company's Hermes 900 military UAS and has been adapted to include additional safety systems required for civil approval.

HyPoint says its use of compressed air to cool hydrogen fuel cells means that the technology will deliver three times greater power-to-weight ratios than alternative liquid-cooled systems. As part of its plans to support hydrogen-powered aircraft with partners ZeroAvia and Piasecki, it expects to achieve seven times the energy density of current batteries, and by 2025 specific power capacity could reach 3,000 W/kg, which would support narrowbody airliners.