FutureFlight

Ameriflight has agreed to purchase 20 autonomous freighter aircraft from Natilus. The Dallas-based Part 135 cargo airline says it is eyeing the Natilus Kona, an unpiloted short-haul feeder aircraft, to support its expedited supply-chain services. 

The Vertical Flight Society’s Hydrogen-Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (H2eVTOL) Council has spun off into a new independent nonprofit organization known as the Hysky Society. As an independent 501(c)(3) charitable educational nonprofit, the Hysky society will continue to promote the development of hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft, but it "will now have the autonomy and resources to expand its reach and impact, according to VFS.

Japan Airlines (JAL) is investing in sea glider developer Regent Craft as it starts evaluating whether the wing-in-ground-effect vessel might have a place in its fleet. The size of the investment announced on January 26 was not disclosed, but the U.S. start-up said it takes its total funding raised to date to $45 million.

Electra’s plans to bring its eSTOL aircraft to market have received a boost with the U.S. Air Force awarding it up to $85 million to develop a full-scale preproduction example of the hybrid-electric model. The Air Force’s Afwerx innovation unit announced the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) on January 26, with the money to be made available through a mix of private investments, government grants, and matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds.

Japanese eVTOL aircraft developer SkyDrive this week said it will enter the U.S. market through joint work with multiple partners in South Carolina to develop uses for its vehicles. The company, which announced the plans during the Vertical Flight Society’s eVTOL Symposium in Mesa, Arizona, will set up a team in Beaufort County to work with local and state officials.

Terra Drone, which already provides drone operations and uncrewed traffic management services in 10 countries, is now establishing a Saudi Arabian division following a $14 million investment by the country's government-owned energy group Aramco. The Japan-based company also intends to support eVTOL aircraft operations through partnerships with vehicle manufacturers and operators.

Moya Aero’s efforts to bring an autonomous eVTOL aircraft to market were boosted this week by a $2 million grant from FINEP, a Brazilian government organization that promotes science, technology, and innovation. The start-up, which is a spin-off from aerospace services group ACS Aviation, aims to start flight testing a technology demonstrator version of its all-electric vehicle in September 2023 as it pursues commercial applications such as cargo deliveries and crop-spraying.

MightyFly this week unveiled its Cento second-generation autonomous eVTOL freighter aircraft, which incorporates improvements on the earlier MF-100 model, including a new pusher propeller to boost range to 600 miles. The California-based start-up is expanding demonstration flights after the FAA issued a special airworthiness certificate and a certificate of authorization (COA) for the hybrid-electric vehicle, which is expected to carry a 100-pound payload.

Private jet charter group Vista Global is the main investor in a Series B funding round for eVTOL aircraft developer Dufour Aerospace. In a January 23 announcement, the Swiss-based start-up confirmed that Vista has joined existing investors and two new backers in providing an undisclosed capital investment in its plans to bring the Aero2 and Aero3 vehicles to market.

Australia's Dovetail Electric Aviation and its European sister company, Dante Aeronautical, are working to convert regional aircraft to use battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems. These plans have been boosted by new government funding.