AAMI Newsletter Edition 78
Advanced Air Mobility International
The global hub for #engineering and technical developments in Advanced Air Mobility and Urban Air Mobility.
Lilium has debuted the Lilium Jet to the U.S. market. The fully electric jet, that can take off and land vertically, is designed and optimized for regional travel with an aerodynamic shape and ducted electric fans that prioritize efficiency and speed during forward flight.?
With an anticipated initial operating range of roughly 110 miles, the Lilium Jet will be capable of quickly connecting Houstonians to the broader region, with routes like Houston Hobby Airport to Galveston, Houston Spaceport to College Station, The Woodlands to Galveston, and others.?
Galaxy FBO’s Houston-area facilities at Houston Hobby, Conroe North Houston Regional Airport, and The Woodlands Heliport will be key infrastructure for Lilium Jet operators in the Houston area.
"Lilium is serious about expanding in the U.S. and actively progressing towards FAA validation. As part of our commitment to working with communities across the U.S. and expanding our customer base, we’re excited to showcase our aircraft for the first time in Houston, a city with a proud legacy of aerospace innovation in America." - Matthew Broffman , Lilium’s VP of Commercial, Americas.?
Pivotal has completed the delivery of 13 BlackFly aircraft to customers across the United States.?
The company’s prototype eVTOLs are currently being flown by private owners and the U.S. Air Force across numerous states, including California, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, as part of the company’s Early Access Program (EAP).
The United States Air Force also took the delivery of Pivotal BlackFly aircraft for evaluation by MTSI and AFWERX Agility Prime. Together they assessed a host of benefits across diverse applications and tested a range of remotely piloted missions. As part of the agreement, Pivotal delivered flight simulators, pilot training and support services in addition to the aircraft.
"With 13 prototype eVTOL aircraft delivered and early adopters on board, we’re achieving our mission of transforming the power of flight. After receiving their aircraft, and across both consumer and defense circles, our EAP partners have strong praise for how Pivotal’s aircraft perform." - Ken Karklin , Pivotal CEO.
UrbanLink Air Mobility LLC has ordered 27 all-electric?seagliders from REGENT Craft, set to operate in South Florida and Puerto Rico from 2027.?
Under the agreement, UrbanLink will operate REGENT’s flagship Viceroy seagliders, 12-passenger vessels that travel at up to 180mph to service routes up to 180 miles on a single charge. The seagliders will augment the company’s existing all-electric transportation solutions in Miami and San Juan.?
The partnership advances UrbanLink’s multi-modal electric transportation ecosystem development and reflects growing seaglider interest in the region.?
"Our partnership with REGENT further advances our mission to bring zero-emission regional travel to the U.S., with a specific focus on the Miami and San Juan markets." - Ed Wegel , UrbanLink Founder and Chairman.?
"UrbanLink’s order expands the opportunity to connect millions of people in South Florida and Puerto Rico with efficient, comfortable, and sustainable transportation solutions." - Billy Thalheimer , Co-founder and CEO, REGENT.?
Electro.Aero Pty Ltd has announced the appointment of Dan Grande Sloat, JD/MBA MRAeS as incoming company President.?
In this new role, Dan will lead the next phase of growth for the company’s global business: strengthening team culture, establishing the U.S. head office, ensuring continued legal compliance, and expanding business development opportunities.?
As the first order of business, the team will be raising a Pre-Series A round after many years of efficient bootstrapping, utilizing some of this growth capital to target attractive near-term electric charging opportunities at current aerodromes and airports.
"Electro.Aero has been hard at work servicing our electric aircraft customer needs for nearly a decade, diligently developing critical charging solutions in the background. With Dan Sloat coming onboard as our President, now is the time to be more public about what we’ve done and are planning to do in the near future to provide enabling technology to the AAM industry!"?- Founder Joshua Portlock .?
Jetoptera is progressing with the development of the turbocompressor/turbofan that will power the J-500 VTOL aircraft.?
The effort has successfully passed the Critical Design Review. The next step involves manufacturing the prototype compressor, with a demonstration planned for the first quarter of 2025.
The current turbocompressor developed by Jetoptera can reportedly be deployed on various platforms the company has previously explored, ranging from 200 to 1,000 lbm maximum takeoff weight (MTOW).
These platforms include powered parafoils, V/STOL, HSVTOL, CTOL, portable personal air mobility VTOL systems, and wing-in-ground effect vehicles.