FutureFlight

Gabriella Somerville says private travelers are now eager to use more environmentally sustainable aircraft and that the business aviation industry can improve its green credentials by embracing new electric aircraft.

In a lawsuit filed in Delaware, Piper Aircraft is arguing that the use of the name Archer infringes a trademark it has held since it started producing the Archer light aircraft back in 1976.

European manufacturer Pipistrel has kept up the pace of its plans to electrify aviation, with the introduction of two hybrid-electric UAVs for freight services. The smaller V20 model could be in service by 2021, while the larger V300 model is due to begin operations by the end of 2023.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

Companies and universities are developing new powertrains for hybrid electric aircraft, including lightweight thermal management and energy storage systems.