FutureFlight

Archer has dismissed new claims made by rival eVTOL aircraft developer Wisk that it referred to its designs for the Maker technology demonstrator as “Cora + Tilt." Wisk's legal team says this evidence proves its argument that Archer's design was heavily based on technology it had been working on for years, including the two-seat, all-electric Cora model. The federal court for the Northern District of California is due to consider a preliminary injunction motion on July 21.

The $2.8 mllion H2Jet project led by GKN Aerospace also involves the Swedish Energy Agency, the Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, University West, the Research Institutes of Sweden and Oxeon. It is based on directly powering turbofan or turboprop engines with hydrogen and is intended to accelerate the development of demonstrator programs supported by the European Union-backed Clean Aviation Partnership.

Universal Hydrogen intends to convert regional airliners by replacing turboprop engines with hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors, with hydrogen supplied directly to the aircraft in capsules. European carriers Icelandair and Air Nostrum have signed letters of intent to convert their respective Dash 8 and ATR72 aircraft, and Alaska's Ravn Air has also agreed to convert some Dash 8s.

Whisper Aero says it will deliver a step-change in noise levels, as well as in weight and safety, for aircraft electric propulsion systems. The start-up has raised $7.5 million in launch funding but is not willing to reveal any significant details about the technology supporting what it refers to as electric thrusters. The venture was founded by three former Uber Elevate executives.

Thirteen companies and one university will participate in the National Campaign testing program to prepare for the integration of eVTOL air taxis and other new types of aircraft into the U.S. national airspace system. The flight-testing phase is due to get underway in 2022 and will include new partners Reliable Robotics and Aura Network Solutions.

Sweden's Heart Aerospace now claims to have commitments for more than 400 of its ES-19 electric regional airliners, with United Airlines and regional affiliate Mesa Airlines getting behind the program with an investment and a provisional order for the 19-seater. From 2026, the aircraft is expected to enter commercial service on routes out of Chicago and San Francisco.

Though flight and passenger volumes for eVTOL air taxi services initially will be very low compared with what we see in the airline and business aircraft sectors, Joby wants to ensure that carbon credits for these operations are available to consumers. It is working with partners JetBlue and Signature Flight Support to establish the basis for this trade.

Beta Technologies announced the appointment of former U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Will Roper to its board, and investment banker Edward Eppler is joining the eVTOL aircraft developer as chief financial officer. The company is expanding the scope of flight trials with its Alia 250 prototype as it works toward FAA Part 23 type certification for the six-seat model in 2024.

The first of the four-seat Cassio 330 aircraft is expected to roll off the production line in the fourth quarter of 2023. VoltAero is also developing six- and 10-seat Cassio 480 and 600 models and plans to produce up to 150 units per year in a purpose-built final assembly line at Rochefort Airport in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwest France.

Urban Aeronautics is aiming to retain the CityHawk's current projected range, speed, and payload when it replaces the aircraft's current Safran Arriel turboshaft engine with a propulsion system based on HyPoint's new hydrogen fuel cells. The company recently completed the latest round of initial flight trials using the current technology demonstrator and aims to build the first of the new version in 2022.