FutureFlight

Almost 12 years have passed since Sikorsky announced Project Firefly to explore the potential for electric-powered helicopters, and yet the U.S. group's ambitions in the advanced air mobility sector are no clearer. During a presentation at the Vertical Flight Society's Electric VTOL Symposium, strategy lead Jonathan Hartman spelled out what Sikorsky sees as the priorities for technological advances while avoiding any specific commitment regarding what the rotorcraft giant might deliver.

Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even this week insisted that the European aerospace giant won't be rushed over the timeline for bringing its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft to market, arguing that much work needs to be done on the required technology, regulation, and infrastructure to ensure that the new sector of aviation has a viable long-term future. The European company sees the new designs complementing the role of its existing rotorcraft, rather than replacing them.

Military personnel from an undisclosed Southeast Asian country will come to California to be trained on how to operate JetPack's JB12 units for a variety of defense missions with no previous flying experience. The product is providing income to support JetPack Aviation's efforts to develop the Speeder VTOL vehicle, for which flight testing is set to be expanded throughout 2022.

As it continues work to bring its seven-seat Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft to market by the end of 2024, the German company is starting a round of flight tests in Spain with the smaller fifth-generation technology demonstrator. The program team has been boosted by the appointment of former RAF and Leonardo Helicopters test pilot Andrew Strachan to lead the flight-test program, which will see sorties at higher speeds and over longer distances.

The UK's Aerospace Technology Institute included an outline plan for a 75-seat hydrogen-powered regional airliner as part of a new report on its FlyZero project to decarbonize air transport. However, while making the case for more investment in supporting technologies, it made no mention of anticipated government funding.

Flapper, the Brazil-based charter flight booking platform, has made provisional agreements with electric-aircraft developers Jaunt, Eve, and Electra. Under a letter of intent signed this week with Jaunt Air Mobility, it could add 25 of its five-seat Journey eVTOL vehicles to a network that already includes more than 900 aircraft flown by its local operating partners.

Mesa Airlines is among three announced launch customers for Elroy Air's Chaparral hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, which will be able to carry cargo loads of up to 500 pounds on 300-mile sectors. The manufacturer unveiled a preproduction version of the lift-and-cruise design this week and is preparing to start flight testing with the U.S. Air Force in 2022.

In the first year of a planned three-year program, Leonardo's new Business Innovation Factory is looking to accelerate 10 start-ups developing technology and products in "servitization" and autonomous systems. The most promising ventures will be given the opportunity to develop proof-of-concept plans in direct partnership with an appropriate subsidiary of the Italian aerospace, defense, and security group.

Electric aircraft manufacturer Bye Aerospace reports that the backlog for its eFlyer 800 twin-motor airplane has grown to include 135 purchase deposits and option agreements. The company is targetting 2027 for type certification and service entry, with a prototype expected to start flight tests in 2024.

Announcing a $495 million funding agreement with Boeing, Wisk Aero declined to provide any details about the sixth-generation eVTOL aircraft it is developing or say when it aims to complete type certification. The U.S. company intends to operate a large fleet of the all-electric, fully autonomous vehicles in air taxi services that it says it will launch in 20 cities, with as many as 14 million flights conducted by 2,000 aircraft in the first year of service.