FutureFlight

Airflow has appointed former Embraer CEO Paulo Silva to its advisory board to support its efforts to bring a hybrid-electric eSTOL vehicle into commercial service for passenger or freight operations by 2025. Following an apparent flurry of sales activity since June, the company has tripled the value of the letters of intent it now holds from 11 prospective operators, swelling its provisional order book to a value of more than $600 million.

Dufour has published a more complete set of specifications and projected performance for its reworked Aero3 hybrid-electric eVTOL tiltwing aircraft but has yet to freeze the design for a manned prototype that should be flying in late 2022 or early 2023. The Swiss company is now preparing to launch a new funding round to support its strategy to develop a family of aircraft for multiple roles.

Honeywell will supply compact satellite communications technology for Pipistrel’s fixed-wing Surveyor and both unmanned Nuuva UAV platforms, the V300 and smaller V20. The company is already providing the manufacturer with its fly-by-wire system and other avionics equipment.

The Brazilian manufacturer of business jets and regional airliners unveiled a multi-pronged initiative to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry. Over and above the eVTOL model now being developed by its Eve subsidiary, these include possible plans for electric- and hydrogen-powered fixed-wing aircraft, as well as a hybrid-electric military transporter.

Tetra Aviation has started taking reservations from prospective customers, who will be consulted on the design of its single-seat eVTOL aircraft based on possible use cases. The Japanese company is seeking experimental aircraft approval from FAA as a first step towards later Part 23 type certification.

Transcend Air has not said when it expects to start flight testing the Vy 400 high-speed VTOL aircraft, but says it is on track to complete type certification in 2025. Its partnership with seasoned rotorcraft manufacturer Kaman significantly strengthens the startup's supply chain as it makes the case for an aircraft it says will be very competitive in both civil passenger transportation and military support roles.

Overair says the Optimum Speed Propulsion technology developed over two decades by company founder Abe Karem will differentiate the fixed-wing Butterfly from other eVTOL designs in terms of payload, range, speed, and noise levels. The aircraft has four large, wide-blade propellers that can turn slowly to achieve greater power efficiency. The company, which is backed by South Korea's Hanwha Systems, intends to operate the aircraft in commercial service from 2026.

Ampaire's Electric EEL technology demonstrator is a Cessna 337 Skymaster that the company has fitted with its hybrid-electric propulsion system. On August 12, the aircraft flew from Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands to the Scottish mainland as part of flight trials aimed at evaluating infrastructure and operational needs for potential regional airline applications. The aircraft will also take part in a related project in southwest England.

Ampaire, which is being acquired by Surf Air Mobility, will soon submit an application to the FAA for a supplemental type certificate to replace the Cessna Caravan's turbine engines with a hybrid-electric powertrain. The goal is to create an airplane that can transport passengers on short city-pair routes much more efficiently than the unmodified version.

Archer's lawyers allege Wisk's claims that the company stole trade secrets for an eVTOL aircraft design are part of a "false and malicious extra-judicial smear campaign." It said the allegations have resulted in more than $1 billion in damages incurred, without specifying the exact nature of these damages. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for Northern California and is expected to run for at least six months.