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Utah Begins Real-World Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Demonstrations

Mission marks ‘first of several’ planned flights at state’s airports.

Friday, August 07, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

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Ampaire’s hybrid-electric EEL conducts a demonstration flight over Salt Lake City. [Credit: Ampaire]

Key Takeaways:

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) launched real-world flight demonstrations of Ampaire's hybrid-electric EEL aircraft as part of the FAA's three-year eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
UDOT's program, called "uFLY" and involving five Western states, aims to collect data from electric and hybrid aircraft to inform future regulatory standards and explore applications like cargo delivery, emergency response, and future passenger transport.
The Ampaire EEL successfully completed a significant multi-leg flight campaign, demonstrating the capability of hybrid-electric propulsion for regional operations over varied and mountainous terrain.

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The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has launched real-world demonstrations with a hybrid-electric aircraft, which Thursday morning flew close to 250 miles from Salt Lake City to Cedar City.

Utah residents who missed the landmark flight need not worry. UDOT said it was the “first of several” hybrid-electric demonstrations to come over the next three years under a new FAA program.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.