FutureFlight

Collins Aerospace says that its new electric motor design is scalable from a power rating of around 100 kW to almost 1 MW. As such, the company believes it is suitable for applications ranging from smaller eVTOL aircraft to conversions of existing fixed-wing turboprop aircraft. Flight testing of the propulsion system on the Airlander 10 airship is due to start in 2023.

ZeroAvia plans to replace the turboprop engines on two Dornier 228 regional airliners with a pair of its 600 kW electric powertrain units and hydrogen fuel tanks that will eventually hold 100 kg of compressed gaseous hydrogen to support a projected range of 500 miles. The company also has secured additional funding to support work on a 50-plus-seat aircraft.

Under a memorandum of understanding, France-based training group Airways Aviation is to receive an unspecified number of VoltAero's Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft. The company plans to launch what it referred to as air taxi operations in the south of France, and will also provide flight training.

A two-seat technology demonstrator eSTOL aircraft is set to start flight testing in 2022, as Electra advances its plans to achieve FAA certification by 2026 for a larger version that would carry a pilot and up to seven passengers. That aircraft is expected to be able to take off and land with less than 150 feet of runway and fly up to 500 miles.

Lawyers defending Archer against claims by rival Wisk that it stole intellectual property for an eVTOL aircraft now claim that the plaintiff applied to patent its design only after hearing about Archer's plans from former employee Tom Muniz. In an opposition court filing, Archer's attorneys also say that the company has never had possession of data files allegedly stolen from Wisk by another former employee.

Blade Air Mobility's provisional agreement with Eve Urban Mobility Solutions is the latest in a series of deals with eVTOL aircraft developers, also including Beta Technologies and Wisk. Eve has committed to supporting up to 60,000 flight hours by supplying as many as 60 aircraft to as-yet-unnamed operators in South Florida and on the U.S. West Coast.

Hyundai Motor Group's Urban Air Mobility Division is to work with drone operations and traffic management specialist Anra Technologies to develop the operating environment for planned eVTOL aircraft services. Anra specializes in unmanned air traffic management technology and drone operations.

Dufour Aerospace has agreed that AirMobility will market and distribute its Aero 3 hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft in Japan. The agreement includes terms that could see the Tokyo-based company buy an unspecified number of the five- to seven-seat model, for which no projected service entry and certification date has yet been published.

At a factory in Texas, Qarbon Aerospace will integrate and assemble Hexa aerostructures made by its facility in Thailand. Initially, Lift Aircraft is bringing the personal air vehicle to market under the FAA's Powered Ultralight rules.

Archer says 20 or more recruits from supersonic aircraft developer Aerion will boost its capability in areas such as fly-by-wire controls, flight dynamics, systems engineering, system safety, avionics, power systems, and electromagnetic effects. The company unveiled its Maker technology demonstrator on June 10 and aims to start flight tests by the end of 2021.