Electra.aero is using the two-seat EL-2 Goldfinch as a subscale technology demonstrator for its planned nine-passenger, hybrid-electric short-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. Test flights started earlier this month as the company works towards a type certification goal in 2028.

Elroy Air’s autonomous eVTOL cargo freighter has taken flight for the first time, the California-based aircraft developer announced on November 16. According to Elroy, the hybrid-electric Chaparral C1 prototype performed its inaugural flight on November 12, taking off vertically from the company’s flight test operations center at Byron Airport, just east of San Francisco. It successfully landed after a 57-second hover flight. 

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Arlington Municipal Airport want to attract eVTOL aircraft operators, so they have joined forces with manufacturer Overair to devise a plan for the required infrastructure, including vertiports and charging facilities. Meanwhile, Overair is getting closer to being ready to start test flights with a full-scale prototype of its Butterfly aircraft.

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Piasecki Aircraft Corp. has received a $37 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to fund the development of its Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES) tilt-duct VTOL aircraft and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technologies. The company says it is on track to begin flight testing with an ARES subscale technology demonstrator by the end of this year. Meanwhile, it is also working with ZeroAvia to develop the first zero-emission, hydrogen-powered compound helicopter, called the PA-890.

The Japanese airline and its engineering division will work with Universal Hydrogen and H2Fly to explore the potential for decarbonizing part of the carrier's regional fleets with hydrogen-electric powertrains. The airline has yet to sign orders for the retrofit kits being developed but has confirmed that hydrogen is part of its strategy to achieve net zero carbon status by 2050.

As part of this week's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum held in San Francisco, the U.S. Export-Import Bank signed off on a loan to support Beta Technologies' efforts to get orders for its eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft. The funding will support the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Vermont.

Air Chateau International, a private helicopter operator in the UAE, intends to purchase up to 100 Midnight eVTOL aircraft from Archer Aviation in a deal worth $500 million. In a memorandum of understanding signed at the Dubai Airshow on November 16, Air Chateau agreed to send Archer a nonrefundable pre-delivery payment of $1 million by the end of December.

UAE-based Falcon Aviation adds AutoFlight to its list of eVTOL aircraft options; California backs Joby's expansion; AAM is now big business for Honeywell; the USAF issues contract for Phenix VTOL aircraft; the UK announces hydrogen project; Bellwether adds partners for personal eVTOL; Cormorant relocates seaplane project; and VoltAero unveils mobile charger.

Volocopter brought its 2X eVTOL prototype to New York City last week for a public flight demonstration along with Joby Aviation at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. A video released by Volocopter this week shows aerial views of the piloted 2X aircraft taking off from the helipad and soaring over the East River, with the iconic lower Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. Volocopter aims to have its two-seat VoloCity air taxi certified for commercial operations in 2024.