FutureFlight

Horizon's Cavorite eVTOL aircraft features a distinctive wing with an integrated propulsion system that the company says delivers a winning combination of range, operational flexibility, and safety. Its merger with Astro Aerospace should boost the new group's engineering capacity, perhaps accelerating three new aircraft programs that have been in stealth mode until now.

AeroMobil's first flying car is the two-seat 4.0 model, which it says will have the feel of a luxury sports car and be able to fly up to 460 miles at speeds of up to 160 mph. The company also has plans for a larger 5.0 model with four seats and intends to subsequently develop an eVTOL aircraft called the 6.0.

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told members of the U.S. National Business Aviation Association that the agency is establishing a dedicated executive council to address a wide array of tasks associated with the development of advanced air mobility technology and services. Dickson announced the move a day after the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in considering a new Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act.

Varon Vehicles maintains that for the sort of eVTOL aircraft operations it plans to launch, there is no need to use traditionally trained commercial pilots. The company says that the economic case for its urban air mobility business model calls for a significantly lower-cost approach to training what it calls "vehicle operators." However, it remains to be seen whether regulators will approve this approach to flight crew training.

Noting current battery technologies limits, LiquidPiston says its X-Engine can boost range by either operating in parallel to batteries to provide lift and thrust or to continuously charge batteries on eVTOL designs. It has already demonstrated the propulsion system on smaller unmanned aerial systems.

German start-up Baaz is working on a novel eVTOL aircraft featuring five sets of ducted propellers and a folding wing that it says will increase operational flexibility and safety, while also reducing noise. The company claims that it will deliver a significant range advantage over other eVTOL aircraft by overcoming the dilemma of how to accommodate a wing in tightly spaced urban environments.

Germany's Volocopter had been expected to go public through a share flotation-merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Instead, it has drawn fresh investment from fund managers and venture capitalists to complete what it says is the "final sprint" to begin commercial operations with its two-seat, all-electric VoloCity aircraft before the end of 2023.

Hydrogen supply and fuel cell specialist Plug Power has invested in its partner Universal Hydrogen, which is close to completing the construction of a subscale hydrogen powertrain it is developing to retrofit regional airliners. The companies also agreed on a hydrogen fuel supply agreement to support operators of the technology, which should be ready for commercial service by 2025.

Europe-based emergency response and healthcare group Falck is partnering with Kitty Hawk to convert its single-seat Heaviside eVTOL aircraft into a flying ambulance. The company says it wants to start using eVTOL aircraft to take paramedics to accident scenes by 2025, but it remains unclear when Kitty Hawk will complete the development of the Heaviside.

HyPoint is one of several companies developing fuel cell technology to support hydrogen propulsion systems for aircraft. It claims that its air-cooled system will deliver specific power and energy density that are superior to what rival technologies offer.