Aviation Week reports “When the FAA released draft updated engineering guidelines for vertiports in September 2024, it introduced the requirement for a caution area to provide protection from the high wind velocities produced by the propellers of electric air taxis during vertical takeoffs and landings. The introduction of the downwash caution area (DCA) was the result of flight surveys of multiple prototype electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft for the FAA.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: electric aircraft
Beta Electric Aircraft Performs First Test Flight
Flying Magazine reports, “Vermont-based Beta Technologies has successfully completed the first flight of its electric aircraft built on its new production line, it announced Thursday. Kyle Clark, Beta founder and CEO, conducted the first flight of the aircraft, which lasted nearly an hour. During the flight, the aircraft took off and climbed to 7,000 feet and flew several approaches before a normal landing.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Electra Aims to Revolutionize Aviation with Hybrid Electric Aircraft
Northern Virginia Magazine reports, “How does a quick flight from Manassas to downtown Manhattan sound? It’s in the works. Electra.aero, a next-gen technology aircraft company based in Manassas, is changing the face of aviation with a mission to open new air transportation markets and help decarbonize aviation.”
Full Story (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Beta Electric Aircraft Conducts Two More ‘Real-Time’ Demos
Flying Magazine reports, “After wrapping up its first test and deployment campaign with the U.S. Air Force in January, electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies on Monday said it completed two more real-time demonstrations, dispatching its Alia aircraft with only a few minutes’ notice. The company believes these were the first such deployments for an electric aircraft with major commands of the Air Force.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Textron eAviation’s Nexus eVTOL Aircraft Could Take Flight in 2025
Aviation International News reports, “The Nexus eVTOL aircraft is coming together at Textron eAviation’s Wichita headquarters as the company prepares to begin flight testing its hybrid-electric Nuuva V300 cargo drone. Having certified the world’s first all-electric trainer airplane, the Velis Electro, the Textron Inc. business unit is working to solidify its foothold in the electric aviation industry, building on the company’s decades of experience in aircraft development and manufacturing.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Founder of Urban-Air Port Highlights Benefits of ‘Vertical Airfield’
Aviation Week reports, “For the vision of urban air mobility to be realized, vertiports will have to maximize efficiency and passenger throughput while keeping costs as low as possible for vehicle operators and vertical managers–and by extension, passengers … London-based infrastructure startup Urban-Air Port believes use of its patented Vertical Airfield concept could help unlock new gains in efficiency for the advanced air mobility industry.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Beta Alia-250 Completes First Crewed eVTOL Transition Flight
Flying Magazine reports, “Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies this week achieved a milestone few eVTOL companies have reached. The company on Tuesday said it completed a crewed, full transition flight of its Alia-250 (A250) eVTOL.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Beta Performs Piloted eVTOL Aircraft Transition Flight
Aviation International News reports, “Beta Technologies has achieved the first piloted transition flights with a prototype of its Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft prototype, the Vermont-based aircraft developer announced today. A successful transition flight marks a significant milestone in the development of any eVTOL aircraft, demonstrating the core capabilities of vertical lift and horizontal cruise in combination.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Army Partners with Electra.aero for Electric Aircraft Testing
Flying Magazine reports, “The Army on Thursday awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to Electra.aero, the manufacturer of a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) design, to perform powered wind tunnel testing. The manufacturer’s flagship, hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft requires only the space of a soccer field to launch and touch down.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Wilbur Air to Partner with Electra for 100 Aircraft
FlightGlobal reports, “Newly launched Australian start-up Wilbur Air has ambitious plans for electric aviation operations on the continent using an envisioned system of “mini-airports.” The fledgling operator is a subsidiary of Australian air taxi infrastructure developer Skyportz. Wilbur Air’s first publicly disclosed partner is Virginia-based Electra.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal – Subscription Publication)