• 07 Jan 2025 08:24 AM
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Electric CTOL/STOL News, Jan/Feb 2025

Here’s our roundup of recent news on battery-electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen-electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) and short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) applications. (Note: All photos are courtesy of the respective companies unless otherwise stated.)

Jetcruzer Makes First Flight

The 1980s Jetcruzer 450 was an innovative design for a lowcost turboprop by Advanced Aerodynamics and Structures, Inc. (AASI). Although the aircraft received a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 23 Type Certificate in 1994, it was not put into production in favor of a more advanced version that was never completed. AASI’s assets were purchased in 2016 by Victor Tao, who is now also the vice president of engineering for the new company, Jetcruzer International. On Sept. 18, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-66B-powered, modernized Jetcruzer 500 made its first flight at French Valley Airport, California. The company is using the aircraft as a testbed for a 10-seat eCTOL derivative, the Jetcruzer 1250E. AviationWeek reported on Oct. 18 that the company would likely use the Magni650 electricpropulsion unit to power the eCTOL, and ZeroAvia’s ZA600 powertrain for a planned twin, aft-propeller, hydrogenelectric derivative.

VoltAero Plans Production in Europe and US

French start-up VoltAero opened its 25,800-ft² (2,400-m²) facility in Saint Agnant, France, on Nov. 8, for production and delivery of its hybrid-electric Cassio aircraft. The facility has direct access to the runway at Rochefort Airport. The Cassio eCTOL aircraft are designed with three versions to seat 5–12 passengers. VoltAero has been flying its demonstrator, the Cassio 1, since 2020 to validate the powertrain configuration, de-risking it for airworthiness certification. First flight of the five-seat Cassio 330 (mockup shown) is expected in early 2025 (see “Electric CTOL/STOL News,” Vertiflite, July/Aug 2024).

On Nov. 19, VoltAero signed a memorandum of understanding for Tecnam aircraft distributer AltiSky to become the North American provider of marketing, maintenance, training and support for VoltAero’s Cassio aircraft. Through the agreement, AltiSky would build a Cassio assembly and delivery center in the US, a training and flight simulator complex, and a network of maintenance support facilities.

Electra Unveils Nine-Seat eSTOL Design

On Nov. 13, Electra Aero unveiled the design for its EL9 eSTOL production model aircraft (shown). The EL9 seats nine passengers, marking the latest iteration of its hybrid-electric airplane that it aims to market for cargo, passenger and tactical flights. The company highlights the aircraft’s “ultra-short takeoff and landing (uSTOL)” capabilities.

In early November, Manassas, Virginia-based Electra also flew its two-seat EL2 Goldfinch prototype aircraft at the US Defense Department’s “Thunderstorm 24-4” technology showcase. The company secured contracts from the US Army and Navy in April and, in September, made demonstration flights for military stakeholders at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico and at Felker Army Airfield at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, both in Virginia (see “Electric CTOL/STOL News,” Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2024).

At press time, Electra announced that on Dec. 8, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson flew on the EL2 (previously called the “EL-2”), noting it was the flight was “the first ever by a US government agency head on a next-generation [AAM] aircraft.” Electra Chief Test Pilot Cody Allee piloted the 24-minute flight, completing a series of takeoffs and landings with just 150 ft (45 m) of ground roll, and the flights “demonstrated both hybridelectric and quiet battery-only operations, with an acoustic signature of just 55 dB at 500 feet [150 m] — the equivalent of a normal conversation.”

Maeve Partners with Mitsubishi on M80

On Nov. 14, Maeve Aerospace announced a partnership with Montreal, Quebec-based MHI RJ Aviation Group, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to develop its M80 hybridelectric regional passenger aircraft. The Mitsubishi team will draw on its regional jet experience developing the SpaceJet program that was shuttered in 2023 and providing support services for Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) since Mitsubishi’s purchase of the CRJ program from Bombardier in 2020. Maeve is also partnering with Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) to develop propulsion for its 76–96-seat eCTOL propeller plane. The Dutch company founded in 2021 has said it aims to start the preliminary design review for the M80 by 2026 (see “Electric CTOL/STOL News,” Vertiflite, Sept/Oct 2024).

Embraer Hydrogen Jet Delayed to 2040

The hydrogen-electric fuel cell Energia regional jet proposed by Brazilian airframer Embraer may take until 2040 to develop and certificate, the company’s Vice President of Engineering and Technology Development Luis Carlos Affonso said during an investor event on Nov. 18. Postponing expectations from Embraer’s original goal of 2035 for the fuel-cell E-jet, FlightGlobal reported that Affonso said the company would adapt its focus and timeline “towards the right, given the natural challenges of technology development, be it batteries, be it fuel cells.” Embraer (also the parent of Eve Air Mobility) proposed its Energia program in 2021 to develop sustainable airplanes, including also a hybrid-electric propeller plane and a jet with hydrogen-burning turbofans.

AURA Flies INTEGRAL E Trainer

French start-up AURA AERO made the first flight of its two-seat INTEGRAL E electric propeller plane at Toulouse-Francazal airport in southern France on Dec. 3. The company aims to begin deliveries of the INTEGRAL E in 2025 as a sustainable eCTOL training aircraft.

AURA announced its plan on Oct. 17 to build an aircraft assembly plant at Daytona Beach International airport in Florida, which it aims to complete in mid-to-late 2028. The facility would produce AURA’s 19-seat Electric Hybrid Regional Aircraft design, which it unveiled in May 2023 (see “Electric CTOL/STOL News,” Vertiflite, May/June 2024). Also in October, France’s electric utility company EDF Group announced an agreement to acquire an undisclosed stake in AURA to support its aircraft development. FlightGlobal reported that AURA had raised around €100M ($109M) and holds letters of intent for 570 aircraft from 12 airlines.