eVTOL

The company will inherit several pending patents and government contracts to ramp up development of its hybrid-electric propulsion system.

The two-seat eVTOL, designed for personal ownership, government agencies, and emergency services, is expected to begin test flights by the end of 2024.

The collaboration with The Helicopter and Jet Company is only the latest AAM initiative from Bristow, which is steadily moving beyond rotorcraft.

The manufacturer’s HEX testbed and demonstrator aircraft will help it evaluate a future family of large, self-flying VTOL models.

The partners will create AAM forecasts, perform industry research, and use data analytics to develop solutions for AAM fleets, operations, and infrastructure.

The manufacturer has now received a total of $47 million in British government grant funding, which it will use to develop its next-generation propellers.

The Chinese manufacturer said it was the first to achieve the milestone, flying about 31 miles between Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

The manufacturer of the seven-seat Lilium Jet begins to install a serial production line for the aircraft’s electric propulsion system, which powers 36 electric ducted fans.

The light eVTOL manufacturer is working with AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, to assess the aircraft for a range of use cases.

The company is now ramping up to for-credit FAA testing and expects to produce 12 aircraft this year, among other projections.