AAM_Tech_Developments

Short announcements of developments within the Advanced Air Mobility industry.

GKN Aerospace will provide the electrical wiring system for the hybrid-electric flight demonstrator under development by Pratt & Whitney Canada.

H55 has secured almost $50 million from investors including RTX Ventures for infrastructure at plants in Switzerland and Montreal and a subsidiary in Toulouse.

When Daniel Schubeler began working on electric ducted fans in 1997, the technology was in a nascent stage.

The U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX innovation unit plans to sign a memorandum of understanding in October with the FAA to gather flight-testing data for the regulator.

SkyDrive and JAXA have signed a joint research agreement devoted to improving noise-estimation technology for electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft

Walmart expects to add Wing to its growing drone delivery network, with plans to launch service at two stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The FAA has authorized UPS Flight Forward to operate drones beyond visual light of sight for small package delivery.

Recipients of the DAIR Green Fund include RAMPF Composite Solutions, which is developing a low-rotational-inertia propeller to extend component life.

Zero Gravity Aircraft Industry has raised almost $14 million to fund development and flight testing of its ZG-T6 six-seat tiltrotor eVTOL aircraft

Global helicopter operator Bristow has conducted its first test flight in Beta Technologies’ Alia.

The Swift Technology Group has been working toward developing a zero-carbon aerobatic training aircraft since the mid-2000s.

Amazon Prime Air has petitioned the FAA for an exemption to enable BVLOS of its MK27-2 delivery drone upgraded with an optical detect-and-avoid system.

Rolls-Royce plans to begin ground-testing its lift motor for electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft this month.

A group of engineers based in Scotland have formed a startup called Flowcopter that is aiming to bring to market a multicopter cargo UAV powered by a hybrid hydraulic transmission system.

GKN Aerospace, Marshall, and Parker Aerospace have signed an MOU to partner on development of a liquid hydrogen fuel system for future zero-emission aircraft.

The vehicle flown by Chinese startup TCab Tech appears to be a full-sized propulsion testbed.

The first dedicated university research program for electric aircraft batteries in the U.S. has been launched by the University of Michigan.

The low-altitude flight test was conducted at Willcox Playa, Arizona, on March 14.

Startup Transcend Air has redesigned its turbine-powered tiltwing VTOL aircraft and is working to raise the funds required to build a proof-of-concept vehicle.

Trade-offs involving battery weight and range are inevitable in electric aviation, but German startup Vaeridion thinks that it has a novel solution.

The Amprius battery cell has a power density of 400 Wh/kg at a C/5 discharge rate typical of electric vehicles.

The Aska A5 eVTOL vehicle has six propellers mounted on fore and aft wings that are folded along the top of the fuselage in drive mode.

Vertical Aerospace said it will begin conducting crewed thrust-borne test flights of its full-scale VX4 prototype.

Joby Aviation has confirmed the first flight of its initial production prototype S4 electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) air taxi.