AutoFlight, a global eVTOL pioneer, has entered into a contract with EVFLY, on the heels of its record breaking 250km all-electric flight. The arrangement will see EVFLY purchase 205 eVTOL aircraft with the first 10 to operate in the Middle East region.
The agreement demonstrates the company’s commitment to the Middle East region, which both parties believe could be a trailblazer for eVTOL services. The deal will see EVFLY initially purchase 205 Prosperity I and Prosperity Cargo Aircraft.
Middle East operations
EVFLY plan to operate the first 10 AutoFlight Cargo aircraft in the Middle East, in highly promising markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with subsequent deployments in Asia and Africa.
AutoFlight’s president Omer Bay-Yohay commented: “This is a fantastic deal and illustrates just a few of the many geographies that will benefit from eVTOLs in both cargo and personal mobility. The committee.”
“The team at EVFLY has a proven track record in successfully managing freight and cargo businesses and we’re delighted to be partnering with them in what could be one of the first commercial eVTOL operations in the world.”
The partnership is underpinned by EVFLY’s comprehensive fleet management service which integrates the latest technology for eVTOL maintenance and operational efficiency.
This will provide a unique solution for companies wishing to use eVTOL for commercial or private purposes.
EVFLY’s founder and CEO, Yannick Erbs said of the partnership: “AutoFlight has a proven aircraft, as demonstrated by their world record flight and thousands of additional flight test miles.”
“They are a natural choice for EVFLY, as both parties will bring expertise to the nascent eVTOL cargo and passenger markets.”
Record eVTOL flight
The agreement follows on from Autoflight’s recent globally recognized achievement of the world’s longest eVTOL flight in history. The aircraft flew a distance of 250km, or 155 miles, on a single charge of the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries.
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The flight, which took place at AutoFlight’s eVTOL testing facility on February 23, consisted of 20 circuits on a predefined flight track, with the plane remotely piloted from the ground by AutoFlight’s Flight Test team.
Interestingly, while AutoFlight’s Gen4 aircraft is fitted with the latest in state-of-the-art avionics, the aircraft also ran third-party avionics to record and verify the distance flown on ForeFlight, an independent system widely used in the aviation sector.
eVTOL aircraft and Urban Air Mobility
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft typically have multiple rotors or fans, and are capable of transitioning to forward flight once airborne, which allows them to fly more efficiently than traditional helicopters.
eVTOL aircraft are being developed for a variety of applications, including urban air mobility, air taxis, medical transport, cargo delivery, and more.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is the concept of using eVTOL aircraft and other electric aircraft to provide transportation services within urban environments.
UAM aims to provide a faster and more efficient mode of transportation for people and goods within cities, which could help reduce traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions.
The development of UAM and eVTOL aircraft is still in the early stages, but many companies and governments are investing in this technology as a potential solution to the challenges of urban transportation.
