Articles tagged with "vertical-takeoff-and-landing"
AIR debuts AIR ONE personal eVTOL with eight-motor design
At CES 2026, AIR CEO Rani Plaut unveiled the AIR ONE, an all-electric personal eVTOL aircraft designed to make aviation more accessible by combining automotive simplicity with aerospace innovation. Dubbed the “sports car of the sky,” the AIR ONE targets adventurous private users rather than urban commuters, aiming to simplify flying through software that mimics car controls. The company plans to scale production significantly, starting from 60 units per year and eventually reaching 1,000 annually, moving away from traditional low-volume aviation manufacturing. Safety is a paramount focus for AIR, achieved through an eight-motor design that provides extreme hardware redundancy. This ensures the aircraft can safely land even if a critical component fails, emphasizing prevention of emergencies rather than reactive measures. Unlike many urban air mobility concepts, AIR does not prioritize crowded city environments, citing public resistance to heavy aircraft flying at low altitudes. Instead, the AIR ONE is intended for practical transport over rivers, islands, or large properties, offering about one hour
energyelectric-aircrafteVTOLaviation-technologypersonal-flightvertical-takeoff-and-landingaerospace-innovationDefunct electric aircraft startup Lilium’s tech lives on over at Archer
Electric aircraft startup Lilium, which ceased operations in 2024 after raising over $1 billion and going public in 2021, has had its core technology acquired by Archer Aviation. Despite multiple restructuring attempts, Lilium filed for insolvency, leading a bankruptcy administrator to auction its assets. Archer won the competitive bid with an €18 million ($21 million) offer for all 300 of Lilium’s patents, outbidding competitors including Joby Aviation and Ambitious Air Mobility Group. Lilium had been developing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of speeds up to 100 km/h and had secured notable investors and customers, such as Tencent and a 100-jet order from Saudi Arabia, but ultimately ran out of cash before delivering a product. Archer’s acquisition of Lilium’s patents adds critical eVTOL technologies to its portfolio, including high-voltage systems, flight controls, ducted fans, and advanced aircraft design, expanding its intellectual property to over
electric-aircrafteVTOLvertical-takeoff-and-landingelectric-propulsionaviation-technologyenergy-systemspatent-acquisitionChina launches VT35 pilotless drone taxi for intercity travel
EHang Holdings has launched the VT35, a pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi designed for intercity travel across China’s major economic hubs. The two-seat VT35 features a 125-mile range on a single charge and can cruise at 134 mph, enabling significantly faster travel between cities compared to traditional road transport. With a compact design suitable for rooftop and vertiport landings, the VT35 supports a maximum takeoff weight of 950 kg and incorporates autonomous flight systems with redundant safety measures, voice and touch controls, and an eco-friendly electric propulsion system. The VT35 is currently undergoing certification and airworthiness testing by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, building on EHang’s prior experience with its commercial EH216-S air taxi. The company aims to establish one-hour aerial mobility networks connecting key regions such as the Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, potentially reducing typical two-hour drives to under 30 minutes by air
robotautonomous-vehicleselectric-propulsiondrone-taxiurban-air-mobilityvertical-takeoff-and-landingenergy-efficient-transportationChina unveils ‘world’s first’ jet-powered vertical landing drone for warships
China has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone designed for deployment from warships without the need for runways. Developed over a decade by aerospace engineers at Beihang University starting in 2015, the drone combines small rotors for vertical lift with a turbojet engine for high-speed cruise flight. A patented retractable fairing system encloses the rotors during forward flight, reducing drag by up to 60%, enabling speeds up to 142 mph as demonstrated in tests. The composite airframe, made from advanced carbon fiber materials, is built to withstand harsh maritime conditions and repeated deck landings, while heat shielding protects the drone from jet exhaust temperatures exceeding 1,292°F. This VTOL drone is intended to operate from a variety of Chinese naval vessels—including destroyers, frigates, and amphibious ships—effectively turning them into forward-operating bases capable of launching reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or light strike
robotdronevertical-takeoff-and-landingjet-powered-dronecomposite-materialsaerospace-engineeringmilitary-technologyWorld’s first two-ton vertical takeoff aircraft set to fly in China
Chinese electric aircraft manufacturer Autoflight has achieved a global milestone by delivering the CarryAll V2000CG, the world’s first two-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to receive all three major airworthiness certifications: Type Certificate, Production Certificate, and Airworthiness Certificate. This unmanned, fully electric aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of two metric tons (approximately 4,400 pounds), a payload capacity of 400 kilograms (880 pounds), a cruising speed of about 124 mph (200 kph), and a maximum range of 124 miles (200 km). Designed to combine the vertical lift capabilities of a helicopter with the efficient cruising of a fixed-wing aircraft, the CarryAll V2000CG is intended for cargo delivery, emergency supply transport, and disaster response, benefiting from quieter and cleaner electric propulsion and the ability to operate in confined spaces. This development aligns with China’s national push to accelerate its “low-altitude economy,” which aims to commercialize air
robotelectric-aircrafteVTOLvertical-takeoff-and-landingdrone-logisticsair-mobilityautonomous-flightHydrogen-powered spy robot flies at 12,000 feet to vanish from radars
Zepher Flight Labs (ZFL), a Washington-based company, has achieved a significant milestone with its Z1 hydrogen-powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Group II drone successfully ascended to 12,000 feet at maximum takeoff weight during a test simulating real intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, setting a new record for its testing capabilities. The Z1 demonstrated stable flight dynamics, full power operation, and system integrity at high altitude. Designed for over 10 hours of flight endurance, the Z1 supports diverse missions including surveillance, disaster relief, and supply transport, benefiting from hydrogen propulsion that offers acoustic and thermal stealth, zero emissions, and sustained loitering in challenging environments. The Z1 can reach altitudes up to 20,000 feet, surpassing typical Group II drone capabilities, and its vertical launch and hydrogen fuel system make it suitable for operations in areas lacking runways or reliable fuel sources. This
robothydrogen-fuel-cellunmanned-aerial-vehicledrone-technologyvertical-takeoff-and-landingsurveillanceenergy-efficient-propulsionTwo-year-old defense tech Mach Industries confirms $100M raise led by Khosla, Bedrock
Mach Industries, a rapidly growing defense technology startup founded in 2023 by 19-year-old CEO Ethan Thornton, has secured $100 million in new funding at a $470 million valuation. The round was led by Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures and Geoff Lewis of Bedrock Capital, with participation from existing investor Sequoia, bringing the company’s total funding to approximately $185 million. Although the valuation increase since its Series A in October 2023 is modest, Mach has expanded significantly from 20 to 140 employees and developed three advanced weapons systems: the Viper, a jet-powered VTOL UAV; Glide, a high-altitude glider strike platform; and Stratos, an in-air satellite with sensor and communication functions. Mach has also gained notable contracts and infrastructure investments, including selection by the Army Applications Laboratory to develop a vertical takeoff precision cruise missile and plans for a 115,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Huntington Beach, California. Thornton emphasizes the company’s
robotunmanned-aerial-vehicledefense-technologyvertical-takeoff-and-landingdrone-technologyaerospacemilitary-robotics