FutureFlight

In an equity capital transaction, Vertical Aerospace's founder and CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick, will provide two $25 million tranches by the end of July that are expected to sustain the UK company into the second quarter of 2025. Vertical says it has almost completed work on the second VX4 eVTOL prototype and will start flight testing in time for the aircraft to make a public appearance at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.

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JetSetGo is the latest would-be advanced air mobility operator to sign overlapping provisional sales agreements with multiple developers of new hybrid-electric aircraft. Electra, Overair, and Horizon have all signed letters of intent with the Delhi-based private aviation company but it remains to be seen which of their various electric and hybrid-electric models will end up in service across its Indian network.

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Joby Aviation is preparing to install its electric aircraft recharging system at the Kearny, New Jersey helipad operated by its partner Helo Holdings as it prepares to launch air taxi services in partnership with Delta Air Lines in 2025. The site is barely 9 miles from Wall Street and a two-minute flight from Manhattan heliports.

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Maritime Energy Heli Air Services is firming up finance to support the purchase of up to 20 of ZeroAvia's ZA600 hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, which it will retrofit to its fleet of nine-passenger Cessna Caravan aircraft. The company also has plans to introduce Jekta's PHA-ZE 100 19-seat seaplanes.

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Pivotal, the ultralight eVTOL developer formerly known as Opener, has officially begun selling its flagship Helix aircraft, a single-seat, all-electric vehicle that requires no pilot’s license to operate. Recreational flyers in the U.S. can now purchase the Helix online at a starting price of $190,000, and Pivotal plans to begin shipments on June 10. 

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Indian private aviation group JetSetGo says it will buy up to 100 of Horizon's hybrid-electric Cavorite X7 aircraft, which is expected to have a range of up to around 500 miles. The memorandum of understanding was signed a day after Canada-based Horizon completed its business combination with special purpose acquisition company Pono Capital Three and a Nasdaq stock market listing that raised an initial $9 million for the program.

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Skyborne flight school increases commitments for Bye's eFlyer electric training aircraft, plus a Swedish study demonstrates climate benefits of electric aviation, Clay Lacy includes Overair in its plans to support eVTOL flights from FBOs, Jekta selects a partner for seaplane management platform, and California supports ZeroAvia's plans for hydrogen fuel tankers.

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On the Radar
UK Hydrogen Fuel Infrastructure Project Looks To Move the Dial on Affordability

Advocates for hydrogen fuel to be at the forefront of decarbonizing air transport know this journey must start with a series of first steps. One such step is being made in the UK with the launch of Project Heart, through which multiple partners are preparing to support trial operations at several regional airports.

One of these partners is Haskel, which is integrating its hydrogen compression system with an electrolyzer developed by Norway’s Nel Hydrogen to provide hydrogen for fuel cell-based propulsion trials on regional aircraft seating up to 19 passengers. The UK-based company has just published a white paper to assess the challenges and opportunities around providing the infrastructure needed for the move away from fossil fuels.

The rate at which aviation’s use of hydrogen as fuel gets scaled up would appear to be subject to a vicious circle similar to that which continues to constrain the adoption of any sustainable aviation fuel. With supplies remaining limited and distribution networks immature, the cost of the new fuel continues to be prohibitive by comparison with jet-A.

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After developing its patented fluidic propulsion system for the U.S. Air Force’s High-Speed VTOL Concept Challenge, Jetoptera is setting its sights on commercial seaplanes. The Edmonds, Washington-based company recently released an animated video showing its concept for a wing-in-ground-effect vehicle, or seaplane, that utilizes its unique propulsion technology combined with an upper surface-blown wing. Jetoptera claims this concept is quieter and more energy-efficient than electric seaplanes designed with propeller-blown wings.

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UPCOMING EVENTS
 
February 6 - 8, 2024 / Santa Clara, California

The Vertical Flight Society's 2024 Transformative Vertical Flight event will include the 11th annual Electric VTOL Symposium. More than 150 speakers and 37 exhibiting companies are expected.

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