FutureFlight

Volocopter and ADAC Luftrettung are building on a two-year partnership that has already yielded a detailed study in to how eVTOL aircraft could be used to get first responders to accident scenes more effectively than ambulances or helicopters.

United Therapeutics has told China's EHang that it will buy 1,000 of its Autonomous Aerial Vehicles if the company can complete the development of a longer-range version. The group is also backing Beta Technologies with its Alia 250 design and Eco Helicopters' plans to convert the Robinson R-44 helicopter to electrical power.

Eviation Aircraft now says that it is aiming to complete type certification of the nine-passenger Alice by the end of 2023. It has made several design changes to the latest version of its prototype.

European start-up Manta Aircraft is looking to use rapid prototyping techniques from the motorsport industry to fast-track the development of its family of hybrid-electric aircraft that will operate in both short takeoff and landing or vertical takeoff and landing modes.

Following evaluation as part of the Agility Prime program, the U.S. Air Force has granted airworthiness approval for Joby Aviation's four-seat eVTOL aircraft, clearing the way for it to be used to carry cargo and personnel in military operations.

Daher, Airbus, Safran, and France's CORAC civil aviation research council are partnering to advance the EcoPulse program to bring a distributed-propulsion hybrid-electric airplane to market.

MagniX's electric propulsion system is set to replace fossil-fuel-dependent engines on a variety of fixed-wing aircraft, including the Cessna Caravan and the de Havilland Beaver.

This week, Joby Aviation agreed to acquire the Uber Elevate urban air mobility platform from Uber Technologies. The deal has raised doubts about plans for the sector by the seven other previously confirmed program partner manufacturers.

EHang is eying a new market in Europe for its AAV-powered digital firework shows. The company was among the first to launch an aerial media services company in China and said the use of drone technologies for digital fireworks is now widespread in Asia. However, EHang noted that the technologies are lesser used outside the Asian region.

The Ohio Federal Research Network is inviting bids for a new round of funding under its Sustaining Ohio's Aeronautical Readiness and Innovation in the Next Generation program.