eVTOL

The aerospace industry is rapidly approaching a technological revolution. Developers are designing, building, and flying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with the intent of reducing cost and noise as compared to traditional helicopters. Hundreds of tech companies around the globe are trying to lead the charge on the future of eVTOL vehicles, but […]

Bell Textron’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft hasn’t taken flight, but it’s already headed for the Smithsonian. The aerospace company announced last week its Nexus Air Taxi concept vehicle will be part of a special exhibit of futuristic technology at the new Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building in Washington, D.C., beginning in November. […]

Joby Aviation is an early standout in the rapidly evolving air taxi race, according to Morgan Stanley analysts in their first ratings report on the eVTOL developer since it went public in August. Analyst Kristine Liwag initiated the Uber-backed startup with an Overweight rating, meaning Joby’s stock is expected to perform better in the future […]

Helicopter operator Bristow Group Inc. has announced a partnership with Vertical Aerospace Group to develop and purchase up to 50 eVTOL aircraft. Vertical, a British startup, has committed to delivering Bristow 25 of its newest eVTOL aircraft, the VA-X4, with the possibility of an additional 25 more. The piloted, fully electric aircraft will carry up […]

Germany-based Volocopter has reached an important agreement aimed at tapping into what could be one of the world’s largest eVTOL markets: China. On Wednesday, Volocopter announced a joint venture agreement with Aerofugia to buy 150 eVTOL aircraft and to manufacture additional aircraft and parts in China. In a statement, Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter said the […]

Ascendance Flight Technologies announced recently that it closed a $11.724 million funding round to boost development of Atea, its vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL), which is powered by Sterna, its hybrid technology stack. “This successful round of funding will allow us to focus on full-scale prototypes and patents in order to accelerate the development […]

Embraer’s Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions has partnered with a digital flight booking platform as it looks to deploy eVTOL aircraft across the world in the next few years. As part of the agreement announced this week, France-based Helipass—a platform for tourism and air mobility that serves the helicopter industry—will open digital bookings on its […]

Airbus has unveiled the latest generation of its CityAirbus electric air taxi, NextGen. The announcement came Tuesday during the company’s #AirbusSummit on “Pioneering Sustainable Aerospace” held in Toulouse, France. The new remotely piloted aircraft is equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered ducted propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system. […]

I spend a lot of time with venture capitalists (VCs) and in Silicon Valley. Part of this is because one of my companies, FreightWaves, is venture-funded, but it’s also because I enjoy staying close to disruptive technologies and founders. VCs approach the world dreaming of what technology or disruptive business plan is possible, while thinking […]

Archer Aviation is now the third air taxi developer to start public trading since August—the second just this week—after it successfully completed a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, also known as a SPAC. As of Friday, the Palo Alto, California-based company appears on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ACHR. […]