Bellwether Industries is debuting the newest model in its Volar family of personal eVTOL aircraft at the Dubai Airshow this week. The London-based aerospace start-up announced that it plans to showcase a subscale model of its third-generation prototype, a three-seat eVTOL aircraft called Oryx, during the five-day exhibition.

Marketed as a private vehicle for urban air mobility, the Oryx features a sleek, sports car-like design with no wing or external propellers. According to Bellwether, it will fly up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) in under 20 minutes on a single charge. It aims to secure approval for personal use in Europe by 2028.

Bellwether made its first appearance at the Dubai Airshow in 2021 when the company showed off its second-generation prototype, a single-seat eVTOL aircraft called the Antelope. The company also has been flight-testing its prototypes in Dubai since 2021.

“We are delighted to once again be a part of this significant event, witnessing Bellwether's continued impact and innovation within this domain,” said Bellwether founder and CEO Daniel Chen. “This year, our objective is to introduce an even more innovative aircraft design with the Oryx model, further heightening public awareness of this nascent category.”

With the Oryx model, Bellwether has made several improvements to its earlier designs and has incorporated new features, including a so-called “cognitive flight control system” and an adaptive electric propulsion system developed in-house by Bellwether Advanced Mobility Solutions (BAMS), a subsidiary of Bellwether Industries focused on engineering new technologies for urban air mobility.

Since its founding in 2020, BAMS has been conducting its research and development activities at two facilities, one located in the UK and the other in Taiwan. Now the company is looking to expand its global presence with a new office in the Middle East, the company announced ahead of the Dubai Airshow.

“This move signifies Bellwether's commitment to orchestrating worldwide resources and expediting research and development in the region,” said Kai-Tse Lin, who co-founded Bellwether Industries and BAMS and serves as the chief operating officer for both companies. “The presence of BAMS in the Middle East marks a pivotal advancement for our products and underscores our strong belief in the region's technology-centric approach.”