Aviation Week reports that Vertical Aerospace “has conducted the first tethered hover flight of the full-scale demonstrator for its VX4 electric air taxi, the startup staking the claim to be the first British company in 20 years to begin flight tests of a new aircraft.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: eVTOL
Bristow Plans to Acquire Up to 55 Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft
Aviation International News reports that Bristow “is continuing to expand into the advanced air mobility (AAM) market with plans to acquire as many as 55 Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies. The company announced on Tuesday that it has placed a firm order for five of Beta’s electrically powered aircraft, with options for 50 more.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Vertical Aerospace Secures $100M In Funds for VX4 Development
Aviation Week reports that Vertical Aerospace “has secured a $100 million funding line to bolster its finances as the UK startup ramps up spending on development of its VX4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Ampaire Flies Hybrid Electric EEL from Camarillo to Oshkosh
Aviation International News reports that Ampaire flew its hybrid-electric EEL demonstrator aircraft on a “1,633-nm mission from Camarillo, California, to Oshkosh, Wisconsin on July 22.” The EEL “demonstrated fuel savings of up to 40 percent versus a standard aircraft, according to the company. The EEL is a parallel hybrid, retaining one conventional piston engine and with one independent electric drivetrain. The aircraft made its first flight in 2019.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Video
Ampaire Electric EEL plane: First test flight
(CNET Highlights; YouTube)
American Airlines Reserves an Order of 50 Air Taxis from Vertical Aerospace
Reuters reported that American Airlines will be making “pre-delivery payments” for 50 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from British Vertical Aerospace. American made a $1 billion deal with Vertical last year, for up to 250 of the aircraft, which “can carry four passengers and a pilot” at up to 200 mph for over 100 miles. Last year, Vertical Aerospace announced orders from Virgin Atlantic as well.
Full Story (Reuters)
Video
Vertical Aerospace VA-X4 Animation
(Delta Charlie Aviation via YouTube)
Beta Technologies Flies Alia Aircraft between Amazon Air Hubs
Aviation Week reports that Beta Technologies “has flown its Alia electric aircraft between two Amazon Air hubs, completing a 31-min. flight between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Wilmington Air Park in Ohio.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Joby Aviation Receives Part 135 FAA Certificate Early
Aviation Today reports that Joby Aviation “announced that it has received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA.” The award of the Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate permits Joby “to begin commercial operations of its electric air taxi.” Joby “originally expected to receive the certificate for its vehicle – an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – in the second half of this year” and commence operations in 2024.
Aviation Today (Aviation Today)
Joby Aviation Certified by FAA to Begin Air Taxi Services
Reuters reports that Joby Aviation “said on Thursday it had received a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that would allow it to begin its air-taxi operations commercially with a conventional airplane.”
Full Story (Reuters)
NASA Test Flights of Joby eVTOL Prove Low Noise Levels
Aviation International News reports that results “from recent NASA-backed flight tests with Joby’s eVTOL prototype demonstrate that noise from the four-passenger air taxi vehicle would be barely audible from city streets below.” While in flight, the Joby eVTOL “registered the equivalent of 45.2 dBA while cruising at an altitude of 1,640 feet at a speed of 115 mph.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Vertical Aerospace Pushes Back VX4 Certification to 2025
Aviation Week reported that Vertical Aerospace “has pushed back certification and first deliveries of its VX4 air taxi to 2025, from 2024, as it prepares to begin flight tests of its full-scale demonstrator in summer 2022.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)