Germany-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Volocopter announced Tuesday its gull-winged four-seat, fixed-wing longer-range VoloConnect has flown its first flight.
The two-minute, 14-second flight of the strikingly unique “lift-and-cruise” eVTOL took place last month in Germany, although Volocopter made the milestone announcement at the UP.Summit of mobility innovators in Bentonville, Arkansas.
VoloConnect achieves vertical takeoff using six rotors. Two electric fans and “uplift-creating” wings propel the aircraft forward. The aircraft is designed with an expected range of 60 sm (52 nm) and a cruise speed above 155 mph (135 knots).
The extended range and higher payload compared to Volocopter’s VoloCity air taxi is aimed at business travelers and commuters flying from downtown areas to destinations beyond the city—such as Burbank to Huntington Beach in the Los Angeles, California, area.
Using the L.A. market as an example may be a subtle hint by Volocopter. The company has been collaborating with local government transportation partnership Urban Movement Labs on possible route locations, noise mitigation and potential jobs resulting from air taxis. Volocopter is one of many companies trying to develop zero-emission, low-noise aircraft that takeoff vertically and fly horizontally.
News Announced at UP.Summit
Volocopter is one of several major eVTOL developers attending this week’s UP.Summit, a three-day, invitation-only gathering of mobility innovators across air, sea, ground, and space, not far from the headquarters of the Walmart retail empire. The event was founded five years ago by UP.Partners, Steuart Walton, Tom Walton, and Ross Perot, Jr.
Other eVTOL companies at UP.Summit include Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY), and Wisk Aero.
Initial Test Flights
Already, VoloConnect’s flight test team has verified a significant portion of the aircraft’s envelope, including forward speeds up to 40 mph (35 knots) and lateral speeds up to 28 mph (24 knots).
Currently, the pre-production demonstrator is continuing this initial flight-test campaign aimed at verifying the aircraft and its systems are performing within expected limits. Those tests include flying at low speed, transition from hover to horizontal flight, high speed cruise, and “engine failure testing for automated and later autonomous flights.”
“This is an extraordinary moment for us—seeing the VoloConnect soar to the sky marks the achievement of one of our key milestones and demonstrates just what we are capable of in a short time and in line with the company’s overall strategy for crewed and uncrewed aircraft,” said VoloConnect chief engineer Sebastian Mores in Tuesday’s news release.
The flight makes Volocopter “the only eVTOL developer worldwide to have an entire fleet of distinct aircraft configurations undergoing flight tests,” the release said.
Volocopter’s other two eVTOLs currently in testing include: VoloCity—a two-seat intracity air taxi with a halo of 18 rotors and a range of 35 km (19 nm)—and VoloDrone for transporting cargo.
Eventually, after aircraft are certificated, manufactured, and enter service, all three eVTOL variants will be part of urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystems in each market via Volocopter’s VoloIQ digital platform—providing what the company describes as a seamless mobility experience.
“Volocopter is bringing these innovative designs off the ground, into the air, and then to cities worldwide,” said Florian Reuter, Volocopter CEO, in the news release.
Volocopter is targeting VoloConnect for certification in time to enter service in 2026.
