The world’s largest cargo drone could soon be airborne – at least if all goes as well as it did at its unveiling a week ago. Chinese startup Air White Whale unveiled its W5000 development, currently the largest-capacity unmanned cargo drone, at an event in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.
16
Sep
Sep
EHang Holdings Limited (“EHang” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, announced that its EH216-S pilotless electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft system has obtained an Experimental Flight Authorization Certificate (“CAVE”) from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (“ANAC”). The Company plans to conduct test and trial flights in Brazil to demonstrate the EH216-S aircraft’s cutting-edge intelligent flight technology and cluster management system.
15
Sep
Sep
After a long wait, the world’s first zero-emission aircraft are finally a reality. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified a two-seater aircraft made in Slovenia for flight. Within a few years, it would be certified in the UK, the US, and other regions. The Pipistrel Velis Electro became the first fully certified electric aircraft in the world and remains the only one with full certification. However, the uptake of electric aircraft is still a long way off. Despite the growing number of cleaner aircraft being developed, significant questions remain about the alternative fuels needed to power them, and the political will to implement these technologies is still uncertain.
06
Sep
Sep
A revolutionary nickel-titanium alloy is set to transform aviation by enabling aircraft wings to dynamically change shape during flight, optimizing their aerodynamics in real-time. This development, spearheaded by Xiaobing Ren and his team at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan, introduces a new class of materials that combine the strength of steel with extraordinary flexibility. Unlike rigid structures, these materials allow for morphing surfaces, opening new possibilities for aircraft performance, fuel efficiency, and flight control.
26
Aug
Aug
In July 2024, Vertical Aerospace took a significant step forward in the development of their latest electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the VX4. As part of their rigorous testing program, the VX4 has successfully undergone its initial ground tests, setting the stage for more complex evaluations.
10
Aug
Aug
Germany’s Volocopter had ambitious plans to introduce its air taxi service during the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the much-anticipated debut didn’t go as planned. Despite meticulous preparations and high expectations, several unforeseen challenges delayed the project’s full rollout. The company had envisaged a series of vertiports throughout Paris, with a particularly striking stop planned on the River Seine.