Zuri TD 1.0 (technology demonstrator)

(Photo credit: Zuri)

TD 1.0 (technology demonstrator)
Zuri SE
Prague, Czech Republic
www.zuri.com

In 2017, Czech entrepreneur Michal Illich began his start-up company and conceptualized an aircraft with wings using hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology for advanced air mobility (AAM) between two cities (intercity flights). Illich has stated he started his company due to his frustration with the length of time it takes to fly between two fairly close cities using commercial jets. 

Funding
As of October 2021, the company has raised over €2.4 million in financing. On December 16, 2024 Zuri reported they successfully completed a pre-Series A funding round, initially targeting €1.5 million but significantly oversubscribed, raising a total of €4.4 million. Notable Investors were Pale Fire Capital (Jan Barta), Boris Renski (founder of FreedomFi and Mirantis), and Matej Turek’s 10X fund. As of August 2026, the company is currently seeking €6 million in its Series A round to support the development of its hybrid VTOL aircraft.

Company history
Illich reports he has founded several companies since 1999 and as of 2010, he is both an active investor in more than 20 companies and an entrepreneur in software and hardware. The company has received funding, is currently looking for more funding and is hiring employees.

September 2017 saw the first sketch of the of the hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft. In May 2018, the first subscale prototype was made to validate their aircraft design. In August 2018, a larger subscale prototype was made and flown. May of 2019 saw the testing of components for their one-seater prototype. In September 2019, wind tunnel testing was performed on a subscale aircraft model. 

In December 2020, ground testing took place with a large-scale technology demonstrator. On September 20, 2021, Zuri for the first time, revealed its hybrid-electric VTOL subscale technology demonstrator at an airport near Prague for the public. On Jan. 20, 2022, Zuri unveiled its new hybrid-electric VTOL production aircraft named the Zuri 2.0. The Zuri 2.0 has two versions, the Zuri 2.0 is a passenger VTOL aircraft and the Zuri 2.0 Cargo is an air cargo VTOL aircraft.

TD 1.0 uncrewed subscale eVTOL aircraft (technology demonstrator)
On September 20, 2021, Zuri for the first time, revealed its uncrewed subscale eVTOL aircraft technology demonstrator, named the TD 1.0, at an airport near Prague for the public. At the time, the next steps for the TD 1.0 technology demonstrator is to perform ground tests, hover tests and flight tests of the aircraft.

The subscale aircraft has eight VTOL propellers, one pusher propeller, has nine electric motors and uses battery packs for its power source. The aircraft has one high main wing with four booms attached under the wings to hold the VTOL propellers. The main wing's wingspan is 11 m (36 ft). The technology demonstrator is powered by lithium batteries. However, the production aircraft will have a hybrid-electric power source. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

When the company revealed the technology demonstrator, one can see employees installing the various parts of the aircraft in a grassy field at an airport. The eVTOL demonstrator is smaller than the company's planned production model. The subscale technology demonstrator looks similar to a two-seater general aviation airplane (like a Cessna 150) with one high main wing and fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

A technology demonstrator is a working prototype aircraft built to test the concept, avionics, controls, all components, materials, aerodynamics of the aircraft, ground testing, flight testing, collect flight test data and to move the aircraft forward to the eventual goal of manufacturing a production aircraft. Sometimes but not always, a technology demonstrator can be a rough example or an incomplete version of a conceivable production model. At this stage, the company is beginning to develop a plan for manufacturing and producing the aircraft.

The company's goal is to manufacture on-demand, door-to-door mid-range flights with cruising speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph), with a range of 700 km (435 miles) and without the need of airports. The company states the minimum landing space for their aircraft is 15X15 meters (49X49 feet). In addition, the company states this will happen with advanced technology that doesn't compromise the passenger's safety and comfort.

Zuri anticipates it will reveal a new hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft model called the Zuri 2.0 sometime in October 2021. The company has not disclosed when the estimated time when an actual production model might be seen.

On March 20, 2024, Zuri reported the company had successfully flight tested a subscale technology demonstrator including hover, roll and pitch evaluations.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Subscale eVTOL technology demonstrator
• Piloting: Remote
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Propellers: 8 VTOL propellers, 1 rear pusher propeller
• Electric Motors: 9 electric motors
• Power source: Lithium battery packs
• Fuselage: Unknown
• Windows: Standard small airplane windows
• Wings: 1 high main wing with 4 booms for the VTOL propellers. The wingspan is 11 m (36 ft).
• Landing gear: Fixed 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 (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• Zuri (concept design)
• Zuri Cargo (production model)
• Zuri 2.0 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook
• Traxcn

Resources:

• Zuri website
• Zuri Facebook
• Zuri X (formerly Twitter)
• Zuri YouTube Channel
• Zuri Instagram
• Zuri LinkedIn
• Video: Helicopter + plane = Zuri. Take a look at the Czech machine of the future, Forbes Česko, June 18, 2019
• Article: The first shots of the Zuri aircraft with a vertical takeoff. Illich is getting into the air with him, Forbes, Sept. 8, 2021
• Article: Zuri VTOL demonstrator starts its tests at the airport, 50 Sky Shades, Sept. 20, 2021
• Video: Longest + Highest: ZURI 11-Meter Demonstrator Breaks Its Records, Zuri VTOL, Oct. 23, 2023
• Article: ZURI shares latest video which shows company’s highest and longest test flight of its hybrid-electric VTOL prototype, eVTOL Insights, Oct. 23, 2023