• Archer Signed $142 Million Contract With US Military for 6 eVTOL

    Ther American eVTOL startup Archer announced that it has significantly expanded its partnership with the DoD by signing new contracts with the U.S. Air Force with a total value of up to $142 million including the delivery of up to six of Archer’s Midnight aircraft to the Air Force, the sharing of additional flight test data and certification related test reports, pilot training, and the development of maintenance and repair operations.

    According to Archer, this is the largest contract of the U.S. Air Force’s „Agility Prime“ program as of today. Archer has been partnering with the DoD since 2021 on a series of projects through the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program with the goal of helping the AFWERX Agility Prime program assess the transformational potential of the vertical flight market and eVTOL technologies for DoD purposes. Now, with Archer recently completing the manufacturing of its first Midnight aircraft, the DoD recognizes that with its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, target payload of approximately 1,000lbs, proprietary electric powertrain system, and low noise profile, Archer’s aircraft represents a potential paradigm shift in military aviation and operations. These aircraft hold the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility, and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles, from personnel transport and logistics support to rescue operations and more. Archer’s Midnight aircraft are expected to provide a safer and quieter alternative to helicopters while being more cost-effective for the U.S. military to transport, operate and maintain in the field.

  • Autoflight Made World’s First Formation Flight of Three Autonomous eVTOL Aircraft

    Autoflight, a leading eVTOL company with facilities in China and Germany, annouced on July 27 2023 that they have successfully executed a world’s first formation flight of three autonomous eVTOL aircraft in Shanghai.

    Three of Autoflight’s „Prosperity I“ eVTOL were involved in the groundbreaking flight, demonstrating the company’s capability in rapid prototype design, manufacturing, and its ambition to shape the future of aerial transportation.

    „We aim to complement urban and regional means of transport for all people by building very safe, quiet, and affordable airtaxis,“ says Tian Yu, Founder of Autoflight, who has decades of experience developing and delivering remotely piloted aircraft at an immense scale.

    Lukasz Gadowski, legendary technology entrepreneur, investor, and backer of Autoflight, adds, „It is a delight to be part of a venture that’s reshaping the frontiers of technology and innovation. With this successful flight, we have set a new standard for the eVTOL industry.“

    The company, with dual headquarters in Augsburg, Germany, and Shanghai, China, previously achieved a world record flight in February 2023 where one of their prototypes covered 250 km on a single battery charge, demonstrating the potential for sustainability in the sector.

    Over the past 18 months, Autoflight has continued to revolutionize eVTOL technology, achieving a series of world firsts: the first full-scale eVTOL transition flight in January 2022 and the first eVTOL full length flight video release in June 2022.

    The record-setting formation flight saw three generations of the „Prosperity I“ aircraft, indicating the rapid evolution of the aircraft’s development. The company plans to make the prototypes into products, with a cargo version set to be released for safe cargo transport in Asia next year, and a passenger version gradually developed in the coming years, meeting the highest safety standards for aviation.

    „The formation flight is a testament to our commitment towards making aerial transport safe, sustainable, and accessible,“ says Mark Henning, former Airbus Helicopter Engineering Chief and head of the Autoflight Europe team. „We have much more to come.“

    For more information: https://autoflight.com

  • On 20 July 2023, the all-electric eDA40 of Diamond Aircraft made its first flight at Diamond Aircraft’s headquarters in Wiener Neustadt in Austria. This marks a significant milestone for the manufacturer and is a big step towards certifying the aircraft. The first flight was piloted by Diamond’s Head of Flight Test Sören Pedersen the maiden flight covered system checks, all basic maneuvers and initial performance evaluation.

    Diamond Aircraft annouced the eDA40 project in 2021 which will apply for EASA/FAA Part 23 certification. eDA40 is designed to target the flight training market. The electric propulsion is an ENGINeUSTM electric smart motor with 130kw peak power by Safran Electrical & Power and charged by Electric Power Systems’ (EPS) battery module equipped with a Direct Current (DC) fast charging system. eDA40 is designed to have 90 minutes duration and 20 minutes quick recharge which should be good enough for the circuit flights of flight training.

    The eDA40 is scheduled to be presented at AERO Friedrichshafen and e-Flight-Expo from 17-20 April 2024.

    For more information about eDA40: https://www.diamondaircraft.com/en/flight-school-solution/electric-aircraft/

  • The Wisk Generation 5 Lift and cruise aircraft flew at Airventure Oshkosh for the first time. The 2 seater aircraft was flying unmanned automated but under human supervision.

    some more impressions from the world largest Airshow

    Tim Lum first buyer of a Opener Blackfly together with Opener CEO Ken Karklin in Oshkosh at the Opener exhibit in front of the simulators.
    And with e-flight-Journal editor Willi Tacke infront of the Vehicle – read more in an interview with Tim in the next e-flight-Journal – coming soon
    A statue of Tom Poberezny was unveiled in the lobby of the EAA Museum on Monday

  • 2nd day started at VFS Electric Aircraft Symposium in Oshkosh 2023

    Very interesting talks at the second day of the Electric Aircraft Symposium:

    Panel on Leisure eVTOL in Oshkosh.

    The panel on FAA part 103 and other private use of eVTOL brought up several challenging aspects.
    Olaf Otto president of Rolls Royce electrical speaking at EAS in the Electric Motors and Battery session
    crystal ball session at the end of the EAS: what Starr Ginn Nasa, Mark Moore Whisper AERO, Sergio Cecutta SMG, Diane Carrington Afworks. discussing what the future of eVTOL aircraft will bring.
  • Oshkosh Airventure ramping up – VFS – EAS has taken off

    2 days to go for the world’s largest Aviation event, Airventure Oshkosh to start Exhibitors getting into their show booths. Several electric aircraft and eVTOL manufacturers are expected. But conventional Aircraft will still be the major Focus of this event.

    Diamond DA 50 on the way to the Diamond exhibit.

    Panel: Community Integration – with: Yolanka Wulff Cami , Rex Alexander 5 Alpha, Starr Ginn NASA, Grant Fisk Volatus

    At the same time the VFS Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS) in the University of Wisconsin has started at Saturday morning .

    Speakers of world leading companies like Joby, Archer, Beta, Wisk , Skydrive, Rolls Royce etc as well as NASA.

    The EAS continues until Sunday 5:30 PM – you may also join online – more info at –https://vtol.org/eas.

    Mike Romanowski from Archer talking at EAS on the progress of their eVTOL

    ^Sebastian Seemann from Vaeridion presenting at EAS in Oshkosh.
    Mark Moore, CEO, of Whisper Aero presented their new e-ducted propulsion system.
  • on July 19 2023 the corporate registry in China indicated that a company called „Commercial Aicraft Times“(商飞时代)was formed. What is interesting is that this is a joint venture among CATL, the largest lithium battery manufacturer in the world, COMAC (China’s Airbus/Boeing equivalent and the manufacturer of China’s C919 jetliner) and Shanghai Jiaotong University (Jiaotong means „transportation“ in Chinese and by no accident it is the alma mater of the founder and chairman of CATL). The name of the joint venture is obviously a combination of COMAC and CATL in Chinese language.

    According to the description of the business scope in the corporate registry, the joint venture company’s business scope includes “ the design and production of civil aircraft parts, civil aircraft (engine, propeller) production, battery sales, etc.“

    This partnership may be not a surprise considering that the three parties have already signed a MoU last year and CATL mentioned the possible aviation use at the introduction event unveiling its latest battery technology at Shanghai Auto Show in this April. It should be very interesting to see the outcome of this partnership.

  • One  week of interesting news at Paris airshow comes to an end. Strong raise of electric aircraft in 2023.

    Next to the big electric highlights of the show like the debut of the Autoflight Prosperity, the Voltaero Cassio 330, and the Archer Midnight there were many new sustainable projects in the halls and on the airfield. Have a first look at our images and read more in our next e-flight-Journal – coming soon.

    The Elektra Trainer is the first ultralight electric aircraft which is UL certified in Germany and qualifies with lower weight also for the French ultralight class. The aircraft was presented at the Booth of the French Ultralight Association FFPLUM – www.elektra-solar.com.
    The hybrid research project ECOPULSE is a cooperation of Daher, Airbus and Safran and several French institutions. The aircraft has been flying on its conventional Turbine and will be propulsed by its electric motors this summer for the first time.
    www.daher.com
    www.safran-group.com
    www.airbus.com
    Willi Tacke, editor of Flying Pages, together with Jean Botti in front of the the Cassio 330 which did make its world debut at the Paris airshow this week. The aircraft is driven from a Hybrid motor based on a Kawasaki thermal engine and a Safran electric motor. The Kawasaki Motor can also directly burn Hydrogen and the Voltaero presented a special tank for liquid hydrogene.

    https://www.voltaero.aero/en/

    Sustainable but not electric
  • local media reports that the German eVTOL manufacturer Lilium signed an agreement with the government of Bao’an district of Shenzhen city to set up their Asia headquarter in Bao’an district.

    The agreement was the headline of the local daily newspaper

    Lilium also reportedly signed 100 pre-order with a local helicopter operator.

    As a background, Shenzhen is the head office of Tecent who is the largest shareholder of Lilium and who invested extra $100mn in Lilium in May

  • Paris Airshow before the start a thunderstorm and many news

    A Thunderstorm came on the day before the show opening tomorrow Monday June 19th. and left some damage at some booth.

    some booth were damaged

    Good secured aircraft like Autoflight`s Prosperity survived the storm and is ready at Chalet #100 ready for the visitors.

    We had the chance on Sunday June 18th to have a sneak preview of the first prototype of the Autoflight Prosperity at its first appearance in Europe on Le Bourget airfield.

    The men behind the success (from left to right) Bülent Bayram, Lukasz Gadowski (Team Global) and Tian Yu (founder and CEO of Autoflight). 

    Stay tuned for more news from Paris as the show goes on!

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