What are eVTOL aircraft, and can they fly against the hype?

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

In April 2024, a Japanese company took delivery of an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, otherwise known as an eVTOL. Called Prosperity 1 and built by Chinese manufacturer AutoFlight, the aircraft is one of the very first examples of a production model eVTOL sold commercially. Fifteen years ago, the notion of an eVTOL was just a concept, with skeptics branding the idea as science fiction. Today, the sale of Prosperity 1 marks a major milestone in the development of what's known as Advanced Air Mobility, and with it, the prospect of air taxis becoming a reality by the end of the decade. But who's responsible for introducing eVTOL, and how has this revolutionary method of travel evolved?

Click through and launch this gallery that explains more about eVTOL aircraft.

The origins of eVTOL

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

The concept of eVTOL aircraft emerged in November 2009 when a video of the NASA Puffin eVTOL concept went viral. The video showcased a single person concept rendering of the technology, and flight hypothesis. Image: NASA

A potential quickly recognized

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

The potential of DEP was quickly recognized by the aeronautical industry. By 2011, several projects to harness the practical advantages of distributed electric propulsion had taken off, namely the Volocopter VC1 in Germany and the Opener BlackFly (pictured in 2022) in the United States.

The official introduction of eVTOL

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

The eVTOL concept was officially introduced by the Vertical Flight Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2014. In 2017, the Airbus A³ Vahana was unveiled at the Paris Air Show; its first flight took place in January of the following year.

Uber's Elevate study

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Another early milestone was a paper on a project called Elevate published by Uber that outlined the feasibility of an on-demand aviation transportation system. The document further advanced the concepts of eVTOL aircraft and urban air mobility (UAM).

Launch of the Lilium Jet

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

By 2018, what was once regarded by sceptics as a science fiction concept had become a stand-alone aerospace sector. German aerospace company Lilium, for example, showcased a prototype of its first flying taxi (pictured) during the Digital Summit in Nuremberg. Lilium also used the event to announce plans to launch a five-seat Lilium Jet by 2025, aimed for the air taxi service market.

The CityAirbus

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Airbus, meanwhile, used Amsterdam Drone Week to unveil a model of the CityAirbus eVTOL air taxi. The event, which took place in November 2018, was the first official European platform for users, manufacturers, services, and regulators to showcase the latest technology in the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) industry.

The Agility Prime program

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

The establishment in April 2020 of the Agility Prime program enabled the United States Air Force to partner up with the electric eVTOL commercial industry to "propel the third revolution in aerospace." In August of that year, the first flight demonstration of the Agility Prime program's ORB vehicle took place over Camp Mabry in Texas.

The EHang multicopter

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

It didn't take long for the Chinese to catch up with their competitors. EHang, a company based in Guangzhou that develops and manufactures autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs), began testing its eVTOL two-passenger multicopter aircraft at Yeouido island in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2020.

Drone traffic management system

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

EHang's unmanned multicopter display flight took place at an event showcasing a drone traffic management system by the South Korean government's Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport.

Joby Aviation goes public

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

In December 2020, Uber's Elevate was acquired by Joby Aviation. In August 2021, the company went public. An American venture-backed aviation company, Joby promised to build and operate a commercial fleet of aerial taxis by 2024.

A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly"

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

And 2021 saw the unveiling of yet another eVTOL aircraft when Swedish based start-up Jetson introduced the compact Jetson ONE. Built from aluminum and carbon fiber, and powered with eight powerful electric motors, the aircraft is described by the company as a personal electric aerial vehicle that "anyone can own and fly." Jetson is now taking orders for 2026.

The Volocopter 2X makes history

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Meanwhile, Volocopter had wasted no time since 2011 developing its own eVTOL air taxi. In November 2021, the 2X air taxi took to the skies at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, during a demonstration which saw the first ever crewed public test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Lilium moves forward

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

By 2022, Lilium had further developed its Lilium Jet. The German company wasted no time in advertising its product at air shows around the world. Here, a model of the eVTOL aircraft is displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow in England in July of that year.

Delivering on its promise

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Elsewhere, Joby Aviation had quickly gotten to work delivering on its promise made in 2021. At an event in Marina, California in June 2023, an unmanned preproduction prototype eVTOL was put through its paces.

The Midnight hour

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL aircraft is set to arrive on the market in 2025. Configured to operate with a pilot and up to four passengers and luggage, Midnight can turn hour-long ground commutes into minutes in the air. What's more, it's designed to enable pricing that is competitive with ground-based ride shares.

The Airspeeder Mk4

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Alauda Aeronautics, however, is leaving everybody behind with its Airspeeder Mk4, the first crewed version of its flying racing car.

The Matrix 1

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

But it's the air taxi concept that remains the winning formula. Here, visitors gaze at Matrix 1, a streamlined and futuristic prototype eVTOL cargo aircraft independently developed by Chinese company Vertaxi, displayed at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, in November 2023.

In the air by 2028

The origins of eVTOL, A potential quickly recognized, Uber's Elevate study, Launch of the Lilium Jet, The CityAirbus, The Agility Prime program, The EHang multicopter, Drone traffic management system, Joby Aviation goes public, A vehicle that "anyone can own and fly", The Volocopter 2X makes history, Lilium moves forward, Delivering on its promise, The Midnight hour, The Airspeeder Mk4, The Matrix 1, In the air by 2028

Slated for commercial use in 2028, the S-A2 is a pilot-plus-four-passenger vehicle that can travel at up to 120 mph (201 km/h). Featuring eight tilting rotors, each providing vertical and horizontal thrust, the S-A2 is designed for speed and efficiency.

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