FutureFlight

NASA is pulling the plug on its X-57 Maxwell electric airplane experiment without a single flight test on the books, the agency announced June 23, citing a newly discovered problem with the electric propulsion system that poses an “unacceptable” safety risk. According to NASA, the X-57 team will cease all operational activities by the end of September.

After successfully flying a De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop retrofitted with a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system in Washington state, Universal Hydrogen has relocated its flight testing activities to the Mojave desert in Southern California, the company announced Thursday.

SK Telecom is investing $100 million in Joby Aviation's plans to develop a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. The South Korean company will jointly participate with California-based Joby in the government-backed Korea Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge.

The German company recently launched its H175 technology, which it says will be scalable for a variety of hydrogen-electric aircraft in the 1-MW class and seating between 20 and 80 passengers.

Flight automation specialist Skyryse has kicked off a full flight test campaign with its FlightOS highly-automated flight control system, which the company says could improve safety and reduce pilot workload for a variety of aircraft. The California-based start-up is now conducting daily flights with a FlightOS-equipped Robinson R66 light helicopter, the first aircraft for which it plans to obtain a supplemental type certificate from the FAA. The R66 testbed includes a production-representative version of the flight control system as well as the suite of sensors that provide real-time situational awareness.

Joby Aviation is set to roll out the first electric air taxi assembled at its pilot production line in Marina, California. Ahead of the big reveal on Wednesday, the company announced that it received a special airworthiness certificate from the FAA, clearing the so-called “production prototype” for its first flight tests. 

Monte Aircraft Leasing has now fully committed to purchasing up to 100 of ZeroAvia’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrains to turn its fleet of nine- to 19-seat regional turboprops into more sustainable, hydrogen-powered aircraft. As part of the agreement, Monte has secured the first build slots for ZeroAvia’s 600-kilowatt ZA600 hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, which ZeroAvia will install on existing and new Cessna Caravan, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Dornier 228, and HAL-228 regional turboprops in Monte’s fleet, beginning in 2025.

Some lucky Parisians and Olympic Games visitors are set to become the world’s first paying passengers in an eVTOL aircraft. During last week's Paris Air Show, Volocopter confirmed it is on schedule to secure type certification by EASA for the two-seat VoloCity aircraft in time for the games, which open on July 26, 2024. 

Germany-based Lilium says it is now the first eVTOL aircraft developer to hold the G-1 type certification basis clearance from both EASA in Europe and the U.S. air safety regulator. After Lilium and EASA provide FAA with further information about the type certification process for the six-passenger Lilium Jet, the U.S. agency will publish the G-1 issue paper for public consultation. Lilium now aims to complete EASA type certification by the end of 2025, with concurrent FAA approval expected to follow under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement.

Supernal has added three key partners to support its efforts to develop and produce its SA-1 eVTOL aircraft. In addition to aerostructures and electronic components, new partnerships sealed by Hyundai's urban air mobility division during the recent Paris Air Show will focus on enabling high-rate manufacturing processes to help scale the production of the piloted, four-passenger aircraft, which is scheduled to enter service in 2028.