FutureFlight

The EleFanT project to develop a ducted electric fan is intended to support plans for an as-yet-unspecified regional airliner. GKN and its Swedish partner KTH will determine whether the new thrusters will be powered by electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, or a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The work is related to the H2Gear and H2Jet programs to make aviation more environmentally sustainable.

Vertical Aerospace's new chief test pilot, Justin Paines, has come from rival eVTOL aircraft developer Joby Aviation. The experienced military pilot will help the UK company to complete the development of its VA-X4 vehicle, which the company aims to have ready for prospective launch customers including American Airlines by 2024.

Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions has signed up several prospective launch customers for the four-passenger eVTOL it intends to bring into commercial service in 2026. Avantto is the latest of these partners and will help it to develop air taxi operations in the Latin American market.

Honda says that its gas turbine hybrid propulsion system will support a range of up to 249 miles for its planned eVTOL aircraft. In a September 30 announcement, it published few details as to its timeline for type certification and how it intends to achieve this objective.

Swedavia on Friday inaugurated electric aircraft charging infrastructure at Visby Airport as the first electric aircraft landed at the field. The Swedish airports group is looking to support the introduction of electric-powered flights with partners such as Braathens Regional Aviation.

Brazil’s Flapper and Australia’s Skyportz have committed to buying up to 130 eSTOL aircraft from Electra. Plans call for the still-unnamed aircraft to begin flight testing in the U.S. next year.

NASA has awarded about $74.3 million to MagniX and the remainder of a $253.4 million grant to GE Aviation to participate in a program that aims to introduce electric aircraft propulsion technologies to commercial aircraft fleets by 2035.

The Irish Aviation Authority has issued Skyports a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC), marking the first such certificate issued by an EU regulator. The approval allows the self-authorization of beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights.

Honeywell's October 5 introduction of the Anthem flight deck system means the seven-seat Lilium Jet and Vertical Aerospace’s four-passenger VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft will become the first advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles to benefit from cloud-connected avionics.

The Accelerating the Electrification of Flight team led by aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce is attempting to exceed a flight speed of 300 mph in the Spirit of Innovation aircraft. The team also consists of electric motor and controller manufacturer Yasa, which has experience in the automotive sector, and battery specialist Electroflight. Rolls-Royce says the lessons learned from the research and development project will expand the scope of its existing plans to provide electric propulsion for new eVTOL and fixed-wing aircraft.