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Volocopter VoloRegion (prototype)

VoloRegion full-scale eVTOL prototype aircraft during a test flight in 2022

(Photo credit: Volocopter)

VoloRegion (prototype)
Volocopter GmbH
Bruschal, Germany
www.volocopter.com

Volocopter GmbH was founded in 2011 in Karlsruhe, Germany, by Alexander Zosel and Stephen Wolf with the intent of making passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) multicopter aircraft for fast, efficient and safe advanced air mobility (AAM). Advanced air mobility has also been called urban air travel.

eVTOL History Is Made
On Oct. 21, 2011, the company made history by making the first crewed flight in the world in an all-electric eVTOL multicopter aircraft named the VC1. The multicopter was flown in southwest Germany by co-founder, primary designer, inventor and builder, Thomas Senkel. The Guinness Book of World Records has the historic flight listed on their website.

More Company History
The company was originally known as "e-volo GmbH" until being renamed to "Volocopter GmbH" in July 2017. The company is based in Bruchsal, Germany, and—though it is now a subsidiary of Chinese-owned Diamond Aircraft Industries (since March 2025)—the company expects to remain there.

On May 17, 2021, Volocopter officially announced it has designed a long-range electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM), for people traveling between the suburbs and the city. The European patent was filed, on June 27, 2019. The U.S. patent for this aircraft is dated Dec. 31, 2020. Electric VTOL News details the news of a patent application for an aircraft with a similar propulsion architecture was filed on May 29, 2020 (this date is found on the first page of the patent, left column).

Volocopter family of aircraft

Volocopter family of aircraft

VoloRegion full-scale passenger eVTOL aircraft (prototype)
The VoloRegion is a full-scale four passenger eVTOL aircraft. During flight tests, no passengers traveled in the prototype aircraft. The VoloRegion originally debuted as VoloConnect and was renamed the VoloRegion in October 2022.

The first flight of the prototype took place in May 2022 and was a two minute, 14 second flight. Within the first three test flights of their flight test campaign, the team was able to verify a significant portion of the eVTOL’s envelope with forward speeds up to 64 km/h (40 mph) and 45 km/h (28 mph) sideward flight speeds during tests.

The full-scale production model has a cruise speed of 180 km/h (110 mph) and a range of 100 km (60 m). The prototype has large windows for excellent views. The aircraft has six VTOL-only propellers located on the top of two booms, two rear electric ducted fans (EDFs) for forward flight, has eight electric motors and is powered by batteries. The prototype has tandem wings. There is one front forward-swept wing and one rear gull-wing, with two booms attached to the ends of the wings. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear.

The company has stated the production aircraft will have Volocopter’s fly-by-wire flight-control system, have autonomous piloting, have multiple redundant and separate systems for additional safety, and the aircraft has battery swapping capability.

VoloRegion eVTOL prototype aircraft parked (Photo credit: Volocopter)

VoloRegion eVTOL prototype aircraft parked (Photo credit: Volocopter)

VoloRegion eVTOL prototype aircraft rear view (Photo credit: Volocopter)

VoloRegion eVTOL prototype aircraft rear view (Photo credit: Volocopter)

VoloRegion eVTOL prototype aircraft test flight (Photo credit: Volocopter)

VoloRegion eVTOL prototype aircraft test flight (Photo credit: Volocopter)

May 2021
In May 2021, Volocopter stated they have been working on the aircraft for over two years in Munich, Germany and have made multiple scaled prototypes which have been in flight testing. It was announced in June 2022 that the VoloRegion completed its first flight in May 2022. The VoloRegion aircraft will allow the company to expand its customer base and provide long-range eVTOL flight (a range of 100 km, 60 m) to passengers. Volocopter states they are the only eVTOL company in the world that is real world flight testing a heavy-lift cargo multicopter (VoloDrone), a passenger multicopter (VoloCity) and a passenger eVTOL aircraft (VoloRegion).

The aircraft is expected to be used for both passenger and cargo service. Volocopter estimates that the VoloRegion eVTOL aircraft will be certified and in service by 2026.

For more information on Volocopter's other production aircraft, please see the following aircraft pages:

Diamond Aircraft Industries acquired Volocopter in March 2025
On March 10, 2025, Wanfeng Auto Holding Group Co., Ltd. revealed its acquisition of Volocopter with a stock exchange announcement reported by China eVTOL News. Wanfeng Auto Holding Group acquired Volocopter for €10 million ($11 million USD). China eVTOL News offers both free and paid news options.

Diamond Aircraft Industries, a subsidiary of Wanfeng Aircraft Division under Wanfeng Auto Holding Group, is based in Austria and has stated that Volocopter’s headquarters will remain in Bruchsal, Germany. As of December 26, 2024, reports indicated Volocopter had nearly 500 employees, but Diamond Aircraft plans to retain only 160 to 185. Additionally, Wanfeng Auto Holding Group has announced plans to invest several hundred million dollars into Volocopter.

VoloRegion ⅓ scale prototype flying

VoloRegion ⅓ scale prototype flying

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: Full-scale uncrewed eVTOL aircraft (prototype)
  • Piloting: Remote piloting
  • Capacity: Capable of holding 4 passengers but no passengers flew in the prototype
  • Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph)
  • Maximum speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
  • Range: 100 km (60 m)
  • Propellers: 6 VTOL-only propellers, 2 electric ducted fans (EDFs) for forward flight
  • Electric Motors: 8 electric motors
  • Power source: Batteries. Has battery swapping capability.
  • Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
  • Windows: Large windows for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
  • Wings: Tandem wings. 1 front forward-swept wing and 1 rear gull-wing, with two booms attached to the ends of the wings. The booms hold the 6 VTOL-only propellers.
  • Landing gear: Retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear
  • Safety Features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft. The propellers and electric ducted fans (EDF) are stationary and do not tilt when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity. The aircraft can also land like an airplane if necessary.

Related Aircraft:

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