The next generation of electrified aviation is finding its footing
Exciting times in electrified aviation!
While the last six months has had some downer moments for electric aviation (Volocopter sold, Eviation paused development, Lilium was delisted), the last few weeks have been incredibly good.
June 3rd: Beta flew passengers from the Hamptons to JFK. (source)
May 30th: Archer began piloted flight testing of the Midnight (source)
May 22nd: Vertical Aerospace VX4 achieved piloted wing-borne flight (source)
May 15th: Horizon’s Cavorite X7 transitioned from vertical to forward flight (source)
And that doesn’t even count the promotional touring and other activity going on right now:
H55 continued their USA tour, with the Bristell Energic arriving in Las Vegas June 2nd after a flying a ton in and around Scottsdale near Phoenix Arizona
Beta’s CX300 touring around the cliffs of Dover and then later across the channel to Pontoise near Paris, presumably to get closer to the Paris International Airshow
Ampaire’s “Electric Eel” flew from its home base in Camarillo to Long Beach.
Pipistrel Electros were seen doing high altitude flying in China near “the Hump”
We have been able to confirm that several really cool electrified aviation companies will be at the Paris Airshow too: Beta, ZeroAvia, and Archer at least.
And, electrified aviation reached 70 flights per day, almost doubling since January 31!
What’s it all mean?
I think it's safe to say that electrified aviation is having a moment. I feel like we’re not quite yet at the Nissan Leaf or MItsubishi iMiev - maybe this is closer to the 2008 Tesla Roadster moment?