Samad Aerospace Prepares to Fly Half-scale e-Starling eVTOL Prototype
Samad Aerospace, which is based at the UK's Cranfield airfield, is now focusing its efforts on the six-seat e-Starling eVTOL and the two-seat QStarling model that company founder Seyed Mohseni compared to a Lamborghini sports car.
Private Flight Group Surf Air Steps Up Expansion Into Air Mobility Services
Surf Air Mobility intends to add new electric fixed-wing aircraft to its fleet and says that these are more viable than new eVTOL designs.
Faradair Sees New UK Base As a Springboard For Its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft
Faradair is finalizing the design for the Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft and considering options for its propulsion system. It is expected to find uses in passenger and freight transportation, as well as potentially military service.
Happy Takeoff Fast-tracks Prism Hydrogen-Powered eVTOL For 2023 Service Entry
Happy Takeoff says that it has consulted extensively with state and city leaders about their needs and preferences for new modes of air transportation before designing its Prism eVTOL aircraft. It believes hydrogen power will prove to be more cost-effective than electric power.
Otto Taps Piston Power and Laminar Flow For Celera Pusher Prop Bizplane
Otto Aviation wants to complete type certification and service entry for its six-seat Celera 500L aircraft by the end of 2025. The aircraft features a very unusual design that maximizes laminar flow to reduce drag.
SkyDrive Takes Funding Past $50 Million and Flies SD-03 Car In Public
On August 24, Japan's SkyDrive made a first public manned flight with its SD-03 flying car, which it aims to get certified and in service before the end of 2023.
U.S. Energy Department Supports Hybrid Propulsion Programs With $33 Million Funding
Companies and universities are developing new powertrains for hybrid electric aircraft, including lightweight thermal management and energy storage systems.
Vertical Aerospace Unveils Fixed-Wing, Tiltrotor eVTOL
UK-based Vertical Aerospace has fast-tracked design of a full-scale prototype that it intends to fly for the first time in 2021, en route to type certification and service entry in 2024.
Hybrid Air Vehicles Breathes New Life Into Its Multi-Role Airship Program
The Airlander airship is intended for multi-roles including potentially luxury tourism, cargo transportation, and surveillance missions. The largely-composite aircraft has a fabric hull filled with helium and is powered by four diesel engines.
EHang Discloses Plans For Longer-Range Autonomous Aerial Vehicle
Announcing financial results for the second quarter of 2020, EHang disclosed to analysts that it plans to introduce a longer-range member of its Autonomous Aerial Vehicle family. However, it declined to explain how the increase in range will be achieved and whether its propulsion technology will differ from that employed by its current 216 AAV eVTOL aircraft.