Transcend Air has not said when it expects to start flight testing the Vy 400 high-speed VTOL aircraft, but reports that it is on track to complete type certification in 2025. Its partnership with seasoned rotorcraft manufacturer Kaman significantly strengthens the start-up's supply chain as it makes the case for an aircraft it says will be very competitive in both civil passenger transportation and military support roles.

Dufour has published a more complete set of specifications and projected performance data for its reworked Aero3 hybrid-electric eVTOL tiltwing aircraft but has yet to freeze the design for a manned prototype that should be flying in late 2022 or early 2023. The Swiss company is now preparing to launch a new funding round to support its strategy to develop a family of aircraft for multiple roles.

Tetra Aviation has started taking reservations from prospective customers, who will be consulted on the design of its single-seat eVTOL aircraft based on possible use cases. The Japanese company is seeking experimental aircraft approval from the FAA as a first step towards later Part 23 type certification.

Airflow has appointed former Embraer CEO Paulo Silva to its advisory board to support its efforts to bring a hybrid-electric eSTOL vehicle into commercial service for passenger or freight operations by 2025. Following an apparent flurry of sales activity since June, the company has tripled the value of the letters of intent it now holds from 11 prospective operators, swelling its provisional order book to a value of more than $600 million.

The Brazilian manufacturer of business jets and regional airliners has unveiled a multi-pronged initiative to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry. Over and above the eVTOL model now being developed by its Eve subsidiary, these include possible plans for electric- and hydrogen-powered fixed-wing aircraft, as well as a hybrid-electric military transporter.

Overair says the Optimum Speed Propulsion technology developed over two decades by company founder Abe Karem will differentiate the fixed-wing Butterfly from other eVTOL designs in terms of payload, range, speed, and noise levels. The aircraft has four large, wide-blade propellers that can turn slowly to achieve greater power efficiency. The company, which is backed by South Korea's Hanwha Systems, intends to operate the aircraft in commercial service from 2026.

Ampaire's Electric EEL technology demonstrator is a Cessna 337 Skymaster that the company has fitted with its hybrid-electric propulsion system. On August 12, the aircraft flew from Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands to the Scottish mainland as part of flight trials aimed at evaluating infrastructure and operational needs for potential regional airline applications. The aircraft will also take part in a related project in southwest England.

Archer's lawyers allege Wisk's claims that the company stole trade secrets for an eVTOL aircraft design are part of a "false and malicious extra-judicial smear campaign." It said the allegations have resulted in more than $1 billion in damages incurred, without specifying the exact nature of these damages. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for Northern California and is expected to run for at least six months.

Developers of new eVTOL aircraft say they are going to transform the way we move people and things in, around, and between our cities. They know that public acceptance will be an essential element in the success of the advanced air mobility business model. The noise generated by these electric vehicles will be a key factor in convincing people that they should be accepted.

So far, hardly anyone outside the companies working in this space has personally experienced what the eVTOL prototypes sound like when they are hovering during takeoffs and landings, as well as while in cruise flight. Joby Aviation recently released a video from a demonstration it conducted by installing noise measuring devices at its California test site to compare noise levels from six  types of aircraft, including its new eVTOL, over the same point at the same altitude and speed.

The footage doesn’t tell the whole story about the noise impact we can expect from all stages of eVTOL operations. But the noise level variations between the Joby vehicle and the fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters in the trial are in stark contrast.

Vertical Flight Society executive director Mike Hirschberg believes that if eVTOL aircraft don’t achieve public acceptance, the reason won’t be noise objections. “We know that eVTOL aircraft won’t be noisy: they will either be so quiet they won’t bother anyone or they won’t be successful,” he commented. “It’s binary: they’ll be quiet or they won’t exist.”

Electra aims to have an initial seven-passenger version of its planned hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing aircraft ready to enter service before the end of 2026.